Since this is the last science page before the big, scary election, I figured I had better get my two political cents in, trying remotely to link it up with science.

Invertebrates are animals without spines. Sort of like those who won’t vote for a third party because they feel it is a “wasted vote,” that they must go with the flow, like flocking geese and schooling minnows.

The problem with America today is lack of principles. Having principles means you do what you believe is the right thing even in the face of adversity. Most Republicans and Democrats are career politicians. They do what they have to do to keep their job, while hundreds, if not thousands of Americans lose jobs every day. Just think how great it would be if all you had to do to insure your job security was lie like a bandit. Republicrats are like spineless invertebrates without principles. They will sell out to their beliefs just to win, win, win.

I could preach about how there is no such thing as a wasted vote, but all you would read is blah, blah, blah. Principle #1: The wasted vote is the vote that doesn’t do any good. Principle #2: Voting for a Republican or Democrat won’t do any good for the country. Conclusion: The wasted vote, in principle, is the vote for the Democrat or Republican.

See how principles bring order to life? Grounded in empirical logic, they make decision-making simple. Everyone’s life would be better if people would stick to principles. Principles seem like abstractions in this material day and age. Like when your professor dumps a ton of homework on you right before Thanksgiving, and when you gripe about it, he says, “It’s the principle of the thing.” What the heck are they talking about?

In science a principle is something which is basically accepted as true, and a lot of other research is based upon these principles. Science wouldn’t exist without principles. When a scientist wants to change the principles, it is an uphill battle. But if she is right, and sticks to her principles, science progresses. Einstein stuck to his principles and Darwin to his. What would have happened if they went with the flow?

The problem with principles in every day life, that makes them so hard to grasp, is that everybody has a different set of them. It depends on your culture, upbringing, environment and genetics. It doesn’t matter what your principles are, as long as you stick to them.

It is OK to disagree about principles. Some people think spanking misbehaved kids is great, while others think it is child abuse. Both end up with good kids, because they stuck to their principles about how best to bring up a child. The American way.

I am not saying don’t vote for the Republicans or Democrats. If you are sticking to your principles, more power to you. I’ll see you on Tuesday.