"Uncle Atheist" on debating anti-science cranks ( like Ed Achorn )

Pertinent to the climate change debates in the Op-ED page of the Providence Journal is a most luminous article by atheist-humanist, Steve Ahlquist: "The limits of debating anti-science cranks" (May 5, 2014). "Uncle Atheist" (as right-wing radio talk show demagogue John DePetro calls him ) also has a problem with the editorial page editor Ed Achorn "who seems to revel in printing such drivel [of  climate change deniers] in his paper, not because they represent good science, critical thinking or facts, but because they reflect his biased, strongly held religious views about Libertarian economics or politics."

I had been wondering if Mr. Achorn is a fan of Ayn Rand. What Christian denomination blesses the "Invisible Hand" of Adam Smith- not God's? I recall Achorn saying somewhere that he found Rand's cult classic "Atlas Shugged" unreadable. As a former columnist he showed a fondness for Charles Dickens who could never have been one of Ayn Rand's favorite novelists– with all that "sentimental slop."

Steve Ahlquist concludes that "debating cranks merely empowers them." But as editorial page editor  Ed Achorn might conclude likewise about HIS ideological opponents - and never publish their pro-science views. Thank God for the Internet, Uncle Atheist. That was a fine HUMANIST article  at http://www.rifuture.org/.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Link to The Paepae: The Platform for Dialogue