Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…

Why are Tom Alberg and Bob Herbold, two huge players in the technology driven Puget Sound economy, involved with an organization that is actively trying to block teaching of science in public schools? “What kind of accusation is that?!” you are asking. Connect the dots, I say. I hope I’ve got it wrong, but here goes.

This morning, I made the mistake of reading the excellent -but terrifying – report about the Scopes (V2) trial in the Independent. After making it through that, I read this about the Discovery Institute, the Seattle based think-tank backing the “Intelligent Design” side of the case.

Then made the mistake of clicking through the Discovery Institute website, where I found the list of board members. Among them, Tom Alberg, the founder of Madrona Venture Partners. Check out his bio on the site. You’ll find he’s been involved in a number of organizations local techies will recognize right away. You’ll also see Bob Herbold, former VP and COO of Microsoft.

Dig around a little in the links and affiliations. You’ll see Metro, the Vancouver Olympics, the WA and OR DOT. What’s going on here? I ask again, “Why are Tom Alberg and Bob Herbold, two huge players in the technology driven Puget Sound economy, involved with an organization that is actively blocking the teaching of science in public schools?”Do these guys not know about the Kansas trial? Or do they think it doesn’t matter? Or am I missing something? I’m open to the idea that I’m missing something.

On a personal level, this freaks me out. I can’t say it more plainly than that. I have worked in technology in Seattle for many years. I know which side my bread is buttered on. So I’m reluctant to go poking this particular nest with a stick. But creationism masquerading as the faux science of intelligent design doesn’t belong in public schools. Church and state, people. Sturch and chate.

While I was reading the Independent story about this parody of a trial, I was thinking that there was little I could do, not being a Kansas resident, about the absurd turn the nation has taken. But look, it’s funded right here in our backyard. Right here in downtown Seattle.

Am I freaking out about nothing? Let’s hope so.