Anti Science Thinking

A recent report from the BBC (the source of all quality and and intelligent reporting) highlighted the incredibly high level of anti science thinking in the United States.  This is a rather interesting claim.  Apparently Americans don't like critical thinking and would rather hold on to the established view instead of questioning ideas, looking at the facts, and constantly attempting to test theories, no matter how well established.  That is indeed a terrible thing.  Such a rejection of the scientific method would be detrimental indeed to the function of our society.  Now lets look at the evidence for this terrible anti science thinking, this deplorable rejection of the scientific method.  1) many Americans don't believe in man-made global warming.  2) many Americans don't believe in evolution.  3) some Americans don't even believe that the benefits of immunizations outweigh the downsides.  Blimey!  I'm an anti-science bloke too!  I guess I'll have to rethink majoring in Chemistry in college!  Wait a minute.  Never mind.  The BBC meant to say anti establishment, not anti science.  It would seem that Americans actually tend to think critically, challenge the established view, and draw their own conclusions more than their European counterparts.  That, in my opinion is pro-science.  Science isn't about believe what your told.  Science is about thinking critically, questioning the establishment, making and testing new theories, and thinking for one's self.  This isn't to say, of course, that we, as lay people, should throw away what experts have to say, but when the experts disagree (as they most assuredly do in some cases in regards to evolution and anthropogenic global warming) each person must decide for themselves.  In such cases it is not always best to go with the view that the media, the democrats, or even Al Gore holds.  Rather, each person should look at the facts, read what experts on both sides of the issue have to say, and make their own decision.  If this is the case, one would expect the views of the masses to vary just like the views of the experts.  One still has a 50% chance of being correct (or at least partially correct) but one has the added advantage of using one's mind and having an educated opinion, rather than being an intellectual Mockingbird, saying whatever you happen to hear.  Attempting to quash debate, declare scientific issues "settled" and hush up the facts is about the most anti-science thing I can think of, and that's exactly what media outlets like the BBC and a whole host of others are doing.  Perhaps anti-science thinking is really a European phenomenon.