Here Is Something That Makes No Good Sense

The July 5, 2010 History Issue of Time Magazine has a series of articles about Thomas Edison as a way of treating the subject of Research and Development in the current American reality compared to the great days of invention (Edison's time). At a time in history when staying on top and ahead of the technological and science game pays huge divends for the national economy and, in many cases, for the overall global ability to confront modern problems, our nation is not keeping up with the Asian nations in terms of investment in R and D, and, more critically, we have our priorities absolutely wrong.

Here is what the Time article on the "Electrifying Edison" says about the current situation. We invest about 5 billion a year on energy R and D, $30 billion on medical R and D and $80 billion on military R and D. No wonder that we are spending ourselves into oblivion in order to pay for wars while the crucial question of producing the technology to the give the nation and the world safe, clean and renewable energy is goes untreated and we fall further behind others who have their priorities right. Just imagine if we had invested what has been spent on war in Iraq and Afghanistan on R and D that would lead to solar panels that make economic sense for electrifying homes, or on a national goal similar to the Califormia goal of 1/3 of our energy from safe, clean and renewable sources by 2020. With that kind of investment in new technology, the economy would be much better and the world just as safe...or safer since we would have no need to involve ourselves in unwinnable wars in order to please the energy companies which remain committed to oil.

the $30 billion for medical research seems reasonable except that it probably is going toward producing pharmecutics of the kind advertised on TV in these days where the message is to take a particular drug, despite the fact that it could kill you.

But, we need to reverse the $5 billion for Energy and the $80 billion for military R and D. And, despite the unholy phenomena of the Tea Party, we need the government to lead a massive investment in solar, wind and geothermal power for the nation. The benefits of this for us are tremendous, but also for the world. To the extent that such R and D leads to affordable solar, wind and geothermal, the poor would also benefit as electrification of the isolated areas of poverty as well as the blighted urban poverty areas would bring a host of benefits to people who have so much to struggle against and for, they don't need to spend hours a day trying to meet energy needs for mere survival.

Unfortunately there is no chance that we will do this and, thus, we will suffer the consequences. At a time when the nation cannot see pasts it's obession with migration issues and the Republican/Tea Party's fixation on the question of government spending, Rome continues to burn, i.e. we have no idea of how to stay on the top of our game when it comes to the most critical question for our future peace and prosperity - the rapid increase of production of energy from save, clean and renewable sources. Poor us...and it is literally true...as long as its 80 for the miliary and 5 for renewable energy, we only will get poorer and poorer in our economy and in our sustainability into the future.

It just does not make any sense to lose this opportunity for the future, unless, of course, our leaders really intend and really believe that to be the world leader in wars and arms sale makes either good economic or national security sense. In fact, it makes no good sense.