In short, an article that states the obvious: progress happens and you need to prepare your society to handle it as best you can.
That means: no Luddites, no Talibangelical lies, no skimping on teaching kids FACTS. In short, do the complete opposite of what conservatives have tried to do in this nation.
You know what else doesn't help? The media constantly lying, distorting, and hyping the wrong things about science.
I mean, I already knew this nation was filled with people proud of their ignorance. Besides the random Oakland Raiders fans and folks who actually enjoyCeline Dion, you've got the risk of Tea Party Traitors who genuflect in orgasmic glee and supported - and voted for - a complete nitwit for Vice President.
What I did NOT know was that our lack of educated citizens - and geeky folks in particular - was a national security risk. So sayeth DARPA. Read about it here.
Yep, your birther/Talibangelical co-workers, neighbors, and family members are in league with the enemies of America. THEY are the problem.
As for you: go read and play with gadgets!
One of the worst crimes of the Bush years - indeed of any Luddite conservative policy - is that we basically turned off the spigot of new scientific learning through an active policy of fear and loathing of science. The genetic throwbacks ruining our education system are going to destroy a generation of young minds with their creationism and bullshit watered-down science as well.
The Chinese communist system may be lacking in a lot of things, but their ability to turn on their nation's creative juices for researching green energy solutions is one of the reasons that their economy may eclipse our's in the coming years.
And we'll have the conservative's fearful interference and our own spineless response to their anti-American stupidity to blame when it happens.
Here's an ethical dilemma for you: we almost have the science to resurrect extinct animals. Where to begin? The dodo bird? Passenger pigeons? Woolly mammoths?
More importantly, where to end? Do we go so far as to bring back Neanderthals? I'm pretty sure it won't go like Encino Man.
Yeah, another year end wrap-up thingy. The important thing here however, is that we now have national leadership that actually sees science as a GOOD thing. These are good things. Let's hope there is more to come.
