LAST SUMMER, a bill passed by Congress declared that federally funded science research is crucial to maintaining America's economic competitiveness. President Bush proudly signed the bill into law.
LAST SUMMER, a bill passed by Congress declared that federally funded science research is crucial to maintaining America's economic competitiveness. President Bush proudly signed the bill into law.
The bill's message is true. America's prosperity, health and future potential all hinge greatly on science advances and improvements in technology. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said of such research: "Many of the really big changes that will transform our lives will come from unpredictable breakthroughs."
However - since the federal budget is drained by the needless Iraq war and huge tax giveaways to the affluent, along with built-in spending for Social Security and the like - Congress and the White House must squabble over remaining funds. In December, the president threatened to veto the budget unless it was shrunk to limits he set.
As a result, federal scientific research was slashed drastically, stunning several U.S. agencies. The Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California was forced to lay off 120 workers, including physicists. Fermilab in Chicago is cutting 10 percent of its staff. Argonne National Laboratory, also in Illinois, shut down its Intense Pulsed Neutron Source and eyed other operations for closure.
In an editorial titled "Sacrificing science," the Chicago Tribune protested that this loss will hurt America through "corrosion of scientific research capability, which will weaken the innovative spirit upon which this country's post-World War II economic dominance has been built." The paper added:
"Research funding often gets short shrift because it can take years, even decades, for what can seem like esoteric physics and engineering projects to reach their practical applications. Visible light-emitting diodes, the building blocks of our newfangled LCD flat-screen TVs, were developed more than four decades ago. ... The technology used to build MRI machines started as a project at Fermilab.
"Basic scientific research - on radar, lasers, optics and nanotechnology - has contributed to the vital military superiority of the United States. Such innovation also gives this country an edge in manufacturing high-technology goods. And it can bring in a king's ransom in intellectual property fees."
Modern nations realize that scientific research and development are crucial to each country's economy. In the decade between 1995 and 2004, America boosted its research spending 43 percent, but the Tribune noted ominously: "In that time, China, Ireland, Israel, Singapore and South Korea collectively upped their R&D spending by 214 percent."
LAST SUMMER, a bill passed by Congress declared that federally funded science research is crucial to maintaining America's economic competitiveness. President Bush proudly signed the bill into law.
The bill's message is true. America's prosperity, health and future potential all hinge greatly on science advances and improvements in technology. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said of such research: "Many of the really big changes that will transform our lives will come from unpredictable breakthroughs."
However - since the federal budget is drained by the needless Iraq war and huge tax giveaways to the affluent, along with built-in spending for Social Security and the like - Congress and the White House must squabble over remaining funds. In December, the president threatened to veto the budget unless it was shrunk to limits he set.
As a result, federal scientific research was slashed drastically, stunning several U.S. agencies. The Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California was forced to lay off 120 workers, including physicists. Fermilab in Chicago is cutting 10 percent of its staff. Argonne National Laboratory, also in Illinois, shut down its Intense Pulsed Neutron Source and eyed other operations for closure.
In an editorial titled "Sacrificing science," the Chicago Tribune protested that this loss will hurt America through "corrosion of scientific research capability, which will weaken the innovative spirit upon which this country's post-World War II economic dominance has been built." The paper added:
"Research funding often gets short shrift because it can take years, even decades, for what can seem like esoteric physics and engineering projects to reach their practical applications. Visible light-emitting diodes, the building blocks of our newfangled LCD flat-screen TVs, were developed more than four decades ago. ... The technology used to build MRI machines started as a project at Fermilab.
"Basic scientific research - on radar, lasers, optics and nanotechnology - has contributed to the vital military superiority of the United States. Such innovation also gives this country an edge in manufacturing high-technology goods. And it can bring in a king's ransom in intellectual property fees."
Modern nations realize that scientific research and development are crucial to each country's economy. In the decade between 1995 and 2004, America boosted its research spending 43 percent, but the Tribune noted ominously: "In that time, China, Ireland, Israel, Singapore and South Korea collectively upped their R&D spending by 214 percent."
The Task Force on the Future of American Innovation recently reported that America's "share of the Department of Defense investment in science and technology has declined significantly, from 20 percent in 1980 to less than 12 percent in 2005.''
The National Science Board reported this month that 2006 marked the fifth straight year in which America suffered a deficit in the international trade of high-technology goods. The Tribune continued:
"U.S. students lag much of the world in math and science proficiency. We've maintained our edge in the sciences by importing top talent from abroad - luring people with our superior research facilities and funding. But graduate school applications from foreign students are down. ...
"In 1990, just 27 percent of science and engineering PhDs under age 45 were foreign born. By 2000, that had risen to 52 percent. But more of those foreign workers are returning home. The reverse brain drain cost the United States 1,000 workers a day in 2005."
Asia, especially, is boosting scientific research, and many international corporations are opening R&D operations in China and India. Corporations feel no patriotism, and go wherever bigger profits seem likely.
Sacrificing science research funding is shortsighted and unintelligent - a sure way to damage America's future. President Bush's proposed 2009 budget would restore the lost science money. It will be a shame if squabbling over U.S. priorities causes it to be cut again.
We hope that West Virginia's members of Congress do their utmost to assure that America spends less on unnecessary wars and giveaways to the rich, and more to vital research.
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