Obama vows atleast $420 billion to R&D

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/wa...nt_in_science/

WASHINGTON - President Obama promised a new era of science and technology for the nation, telling the National Academy of Sciences yesterday that he wants to devote more funds to research and development. America has fallen behind other countries in science, Obama said, but "it is time for us to lead once again." "I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than 3 percent of our gross domestic product to research and development," Obama told the National Academy of Sciences. That 3 percent - which would amount to about $420 billion - would exceed the level of spending during the height of the space race, he said. Obama set forth a wish list including solar cells as cheap as paint; green buildings that produce all the energy they consume; learning software as effective as a personal tutor; and prosthetics so advanced that someone could play the piano again.

This is good news indeed. I was getting tired of reading about all the major breakthroughs and projects in science coming from other than American sources. LHC anyone? There is no reason all the best American technology should be the product of war.

3%? That's it? What the hell are we spending everything else on? Maybe the definition of "research and development" doesn't include similar fields such as medicine?

3%? That's it? What the hell are we spending everything else on? Maybe the definition of "research and development" doesn't include similar fields such as medicine?

3% = four hundred and twenty billion dollars every year at least

Exactly. This really is superb news. I hope they can pour more money into general education like it was promised, or atleast restructure how the operations are running now. I wouldn't rule out seeing more online schooling in the near future, especially for homeschooled kids.