The Next Hurrah
As part of a Democratic strategy for the coming year, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is giving a speech today at the National Press Club laying out a strategy to retain America's competitiveness and leadership in the areas of science and technology. The strategy will call for energy independence within 10 years, nationwide broadband service, increased funding for science and engineering education and a greater federal coimmitment to funding basic research. Pelosi notes that other countries are following the American blueprint of leadership in science and technology. "As others have copied our blueprint we have departed from it." In a sharp break with the Republican Congress, Pelosi promises that if the Democrats take back Congress, the government will stop interfering with sound scientific judgments and will double many research programs. In particular, Pelosi highlights the need for a stepped-up program of "high-risk, high-reward, revolutionary energy technologies." Finally, in a call reminiscent of the post-Sputnik National Defense Education Act, Pelosi calls for 100,000 new scientists, engineers and mathematicians over the next four years through increased spending for education, as well as scholarships and grants for students, to boost competitiveness.
[...]Perhaps most importantly, Pelosi has put the Democrats squarely on the side of science and progress. The Republican War on Science is more than just the latest chapter in American anti-intellectualism, a rerun of George Wallace's indictment of "pointy headed intellectuals." Given problems such as global warming, avian flu, and energy depletion, it threatens our survival as a nation and as a species. In more immediate terms, a promise for more support for science may further peel off votes among professionals and entrepreneurial/libertarian types repelled by the GOP, bringing us one step closer to taking Congress.
Now lets talk about Returning to American Values. Maybe Jimmy Carter's book will help.
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