--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The science was on Smith’s side, but it…" description: "\"“The science was on Smith’s side, but it didn’t seem to matter to ranchers and hunters, or to state legislators. The debate wasn’t about science anymor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/nate-blakeslee-109452_science_the-science-was-on-smith-s-side-but-it-d_208760.jpg" --- # The science was on Smith’s side, but it didn’t seem to… ![“The science was on Smith’s side, but it didn’t seem to matter to ranchers and hunters, or to state legislators. The debate wasn’t about science anymore, if indeed it ever had been.” quote by Nate Blakeslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/nate-blakeslee-109452_science_the-science-was-on-smith-s-side-but-it-d_208760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/nate-blakeslee-109452_science_the-science-was-on-smith-s-side-but-it-d_208760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/nate-blakeslee-109452_science_the-science-was-on-smith-s-side-but-it-d_208760.jpg) > ““The science was on Smith’s side, but it didn’t seem to matter to ranchers and hunters, or to state legislators. The debate wasn’t about science anymore, if indeed it ever had been.”” [Nate Blakeslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-blakeslee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science lost influence when politics and economics dominate the discussion. **In simple terms:** Science is sidelined by politics and economics. Key Takeaway Advocate for evidence‑based policy. Themes science politics policy environment Mood analytical concerned Type political environmental When to use this quote - environmental advocacy - legislative lobbying - public discourse Key Concepts science denial policy making stakeholder conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can science regain influence? - What role should economics play? A Different Perspective May understate scientific consensus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debate Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate-wasn-2160414/) [Didn Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-matter/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-smith-2160416/) [Smith Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smith-didn-2160415/) [Wasn Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-science-2160417/) ## Related quotes > [ As was demonstrated back in 2012, \[Barack\] Obama was thought to be in big trouble after that first debate, and he wasn't, was he?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/as-was-demonstrated-back-in-2012-barack-obama-was-thought-to-be-in/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When I was really young, my ambition wasn't to do science. I didn't really know that I could. 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