Theory And Reality

Theory and reality must always be compared, if any scientific progress is to be made. However, people interested in preserving the status quo resist such a comparison. Here are two examples where advocates refuse to compare their theory with reality:

1. We should replace automobiles with rapid transit, because "One rail line can carry as many people as a twelve-lane freeway." [1]
2. We should promote condoms, because they prevent venereal disease and unwanted pregnancy.

Transportation[edit]

Cars are much better than public transit in all but a few special cases:

• While some auto opponents claim that people are "enslaved" to their cars, University of Arizona researcher Sandra Rosenbloom responds, "You wouldn't believe how owning their first car frees women." Social scientists say that one of the best ways to help someone out of poverty is to give them a used car; even in the most transit-intensive urban areas, free transit passes don't provide access to anywhere near as many potential jobs as an automobile. [2]

Condoms[edit]

For a more detailed treatment, see condom.

Leaving moral considerations aside for the moment, the biggest problem with condoms is that the people who need them the most are the least likely to use them consistently. Tragically, the result is that the more we spend money promoting and distributing condoms, the more venereal disease and unwanted pregnancies we get.