Lack of intelligent skepticism is the real problem. All scientific conclusions are tentative -- they are all based on evidence to date and subject to revision when new observations can't be fitted into a theory. But unless you can follow the argument and test it against the supporting evidence, your belief or disbelief in the conclusions is simply driven by what you would prefer to be true. How many Americans do you suppose understand the scientific method well enough to do that?

One finds wish thinking on both sides of the popular debate on scientific issues. On global warming, for example, the deniers begin from the desire not to modify our current manner of living. Many of the popular advocates, on the other hand, don't understand the scientific issues either, but they have political or moral objections to consumer capitalism and are glad to use climate change -- socialism no longer being a viable option -- as a stick to beat it with.