We live among swelling waves of misinformation and disinformation. This is sometimes by accident but increasingly by design in organized campaigns. The daily and periodic media remind us of this with respect to politics. But too often unremarked is that this radical attack on the foundations of our democratic mutual exchange of verified information is the undercutting of medical science—as well as climate and safety. Not without precedent, the frequency and threat are unparalleled.

Consider a major case in point:

The New York Times promotes a prominent misinformed challenge to scientific knowledge without any basic investigation.

In March 2017, the New York Times published an article that accused Dr. Carlo Croce of The Ohio State University Medical Center of blatant scientific misconduct. [(https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/science/cancer-carlo-croce.html)] Clearly apparent, the accusations were based almost completely on the unproved claims of D.A. Sanders, a Purdue University virologist.

When Circleville police officer Ryan Speakman sic’d his German Shepard “Serg” onto Jadarrius Rose, was the officer trying to fulfill a “Try That in a Small Town” fantasy? It was July 4, after all. 

Juxtaposed to this in Columbus is the rat-ta-tat-tat echo of gun violence. Four officer-involved shootings in a month, and one officer charged with murder. Bullets flying in all directions at Westgate Park and the Great Southern parking lot. Guns are now the leading cause of death of children.

The disturbing and laughable irony is that the Ohio GOP’s love affair with permitless carry is going to mean more money for police in the long run.

Jadarrius Rose was driving a semi when ordered by state troopers to pull over for no good reason – a missing mud flap on a perfectly sunny day. The truth is Rose was profiled (he’s African American).

Yet the fallout from Central Ohio’s latest police brutality may be far greater than a small-town cop getting fired and Rose scarred for life.