Pres Obama Promises Massive Commitment To Scientific Research

[chill_wind]

(Apologies for cross-posting-- I put this in GD instead of GD-P, where it best belongs for those that don't scan GD)

Obama Promises Massive Commitment To Scientific Research

Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Microsoft strategy officer Craig Mundie among those named to help the administration shape its science policy.

By Thomas Claburn
InformationWeek
April 27, 2009 06:08 PM

In a speech to the members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), President Obama pledged to commit 3% of the U.S. gross domestic product to scientific research, development, and education, an amount that exceeds scientific funding during the height of the space race with the former Soviet Union in 1964.

"This represents the largest commitment to scientific research and innovation in American history," he said, referring to funding plans outlined in the Recovery Act and his proposed budget.

The president said science is "more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before."

He cited the emergent swine flu outbreak as an example of why the nation cannot afford to fall behind in science. "Our capacity to deal with a public health challenge of this sort rests heavily on the work of our scientific and medical community," he said.

Noting that President Lincoln created the NAS at a time of civil war, in a refusal to accept that the nation's sole purpose was survival, Obama recounted that how his 19th century predecessor said that we must add "'the fuel of interest to the fire of genius in the discovery of new and useful things.'"

http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/policy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=217200263

[valerief]

1. Thought I was seeing double.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5547728

[chill_wind]

2. Sorry. :-) n/t

[valerief]

3. Oh don't say sorry. It's a good post.

:hi:

[ClarkUSA]

4. Scientists and enviromentalists must be pinching themselves. Thanks for bringing such great news!

Being the child of scientists, I think it's awesome. :woohoo:

[chill_wind]

5. Science As a Candle in the Dark

When I think of the long reign of the regressive policies of the anti-science BushNeos and religeo-flat-earthers, who took hold of our country at the Millenium, and held so much of the best science hostage (while at the same time putting so much of focal priorities and tremendous money it seemed into especially developing smarter, more efficient weapons and research into means to kill and torture people), I always think of these prophetic sounding words by Carl Sagan--

I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges nearer, pseudoscience and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to national self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us-then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls.

The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.

-Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark

Out with the medieval... and back to the hope and the light of science and problem solving for the better good.
President Obama deserves very high marks here.

[ClarkUSA]

6. The scientific discoveries that come from this may be his biggest legacy to the next generation.

Carl Sagan must be smiling somewhere. :hi:

[chill_wind]

9. It's a wonderful thought!

:hi:

[question everything]

7. This needs to be kicked again and again

Thank you, President Obama, for standing behind your promises. Since Reagan, who embarked on anti-intellectualism and cut funds for scientific research the halls of our great universities lost many young, promising scientists.

[Mopar151]

8. CEObama is only following sound business practice

Basic scientific and industrial research has an excellent ROI long term. It's only a sign of how screwed up the business of business is at the moment that it doesn't chart well.

[HopeOverFear]

10. ooooooooookaaaaaay

:crazy: :wtf:

[Kdillard]

11. k and r.