Posted on 02/01/2006 9:34:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - After a series of reports warning of the growing economic threat from China and India, ``competitiveness'' has become the latest catch-word of Silicon Valley's high-tech industry.
President Bush elevated the issue for the nation Tuesday, announcing a decadelong ``American Competitiveness Initiative'' that would pour $136 billion into scientific research and the promotion of math and science education.
--snip--
High-tech leaders praised the proposal Tuesday night.
``I was heartened by the amount of time he spent talking about competitiveness,'' said Carl Guardino, head of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. ``To hear him focus on math and science, especially in middle school and high school, was terrific.''
Bush's plan includes longtime priorities of the high-tech industry and echoes calls made by academic and business leaders in reports on competitiveness dating back to 2004. The initiative also mirrors congressional proposals, including an extensive ``Innovation Agenda'' unveiled by Democrats in the House of Representatives in November.
Competitiveness is an issue on which Democrats and Republicans can work together, said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, who helped craft House Democrats' proposal. But the real commitment will come when Bush funds his proposals in upcoming budgets, she said.
``The president has a history of coming up here and giving great speeches and not acting on what he says,'' Eshoo said, noting shortfalls from funding promises for his ``No Child Left Behind'' education plan.
About two-thirds of Bush's competitiveness package will be paid for out of a business tax credit for research and development that Bush wants to make permanent. Much of that money would probably be spent anyway over the next 10 years, although the White House also wants to enhance the credit.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
President Bush sure is generous . . . with our money.
And I think math and science is like serious exercise for the brain. It has to make you smarter.
Unfortunately a lot of kids see big money being made in other ways (some not legal). I like to think the brightest would gravitate to the tougher academic subjects but I know that doesn't always happen.
Math trains you on how to think. An engineering degree combined with an MBA is gold.
What a joke. These guys are responsible for creating the mindset that only the foreign-born are qualified to do high-tech work and that Americans need not apply.
"The $136 billion will just go down the nea union rathole."
I'm pretty sure you're right.
Do the number 36 24 36 come to mind?
And what do we do to get the girls interested? Have the Chippendales teach?
One way is to have good teachers early in schools make it interesting.
And as someone else stated, drop all the other "crap" and actually concentrate on academics!
Far too many attack this move, while many of these same Freepers post here about how "outsourcing" is killing our economy. One cannot have it both ways!
This move will improve a literate and world class technical workforce for our future.
Anyone here have another idea to increase math and science skills in our school systems? If you do, what are the details, and how will YOU fund it???
LLS
That would certainly help!
I was just speaking in general that our kids need better role models. I'm sure they can name all the rappers but can they name even one astronaut? We need to put much more emphasis on math and science in elementary school. Of course, as long as they understand that homosexuality is a wonderful thing...
Employment possibilities or scholarships such as the mining, oil/gas industries provide.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.