Obama's win a big vindication for Nate Silver, king of the quants | Politics, Policy, and Technology - CNET News

It is simple. We have a party in this big old nation of our's that works very, very hard to diminish learning.

They don't believe science, be it biology, geology, chemistry, flu shots, whatever. They try to whitewash history books for kids and peddle in abstinence, creationism, et al as substitutes for real learning and real solutions.

And they hate math. Polls in this particular case.

Wish fulfillment is a huge industry. I'm in a Star Wars club and read a fair amount of fiction. Harry Potter is neat stuff. We all want to drag our kids to Disneyland or whatever. We dress up for Halloween. Women apparently want to be tied up and demeaned it you believe in that 50 Shades crap.

But we don't substitute it for reality. At least, I *hope* the 50 Shaders don't.

In any case, growing up means accepting that world does not work or look the way you wish it would. I'd like a flying car. Someone else would love that Mitt Romney was the next president. Guess what? Neither is happening, at least not right away.

For instance, I still might get to see a flying car someday.