Why Don't Americans Elect Scientists?
Why don't Americans elect scientists?  Because current American culture is anti-intellectual.  I can't really back this up concretely, but as an American, it's hard to find anything intellectual around.  A long time ago, people went to hear lectures on the weekends, and the Lincoln-Douglas debates were well attended.  Now, TV "news" is a joke, and even NPR is becoming a bit entertainy.  I get the feeling that few Americans want to think.