No, we are not talking about Typhoons or Hurricanes, nor are we discussing the Tornados in the Mid West - we are worried about the future of America's competitiveness, it's serious, and it's time we addressed this at a national level. It's time we fixed the problem, without band aids or slogans. Indeed, to really wrap your mind around the challenges ahead, there is a very good book, which I'd like you to read:
"Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5," written by and compiled for members of the 2005 Conference of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine; published by The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. (2010), pp. 104, ISBN: 0-309-16098-7. (doi: 10.4087/FOUNDATIONREVIEW-D-10-00026).
Wow, now that was one heck of an eye-opener indeed, yes, I highly recommend it to you. This report and book can be downloaded in.pdf online, and I suggest you do so, and as it states in the introduction it deals with the following concerns;
"What are the top 10 actions, in priority order, that federal policymakers could take to enhance the science and technology enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st century? What strategy, with several concrete steps, could be used to implement each of those actions?"
Call it a reality check on future action which must be taken here in the United States, and what we need to do about it. Now then, permit me to absolutely trash the insanity and arrogance of these scientists and engineers who state in this report; "While only four percent of the nation's work force is composed of scientists and engineers, this group disproportionately creates jobs for the other 96 percent." I am sorry but that is complete nonsense - entrepreneurs create 100% of the jobs, and we hire them!
Without entrepreneurs, this country is history and cannot compete in the future in global markets. And most of the innovation comes from entrepreneurs, who take discoveries, fund research, pay taxes to fund research, provide all the jobs, and then pick up that ball and run for the touch-down. This report further purports that scientists and engineers enable the entrepreneurs, but it doesn't tell you that without entrepreneurs, the scientists aren't needed.
Now then, where this report is correct is that we do need pure research and funding towards innovation, and we must work on education so we have the proper number of math and science majors, as well as engineering students. It also points out the challenges with global competing with China, and intellectual property theft issues. And yes, it very much is a gathering storm, one we certainly ought to be considering and working on to bridge this gap and cut off this future crisis. Please read this book-report and consider it.
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