OPINION:
Given that scientific research and higher education are being so brutally defunded and persecuted, it should not be surprising that Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating (“Trump administration brushes off credit downgrade as ‘lagging indicator,’” Web, May 18). Our nation depends heavily on science for its economy, well-being and defense. The transistor, IC chip, laser, MRI, PET scanning and internet — among numerous other technologies — were all invented here because of strong federal support for scientific research and STEM education. Without scientists and engineers, how will President Trump re-industrialize America? How will America remain competitive against, for example, China when China produces more STEM students than America graduates in all categories? What will drive innovation? How will we pay down our $36 trillion debt?
Funding of science and strong support for STEM education should never have become a political issue, as our nation is absolutely dependent upon it for America’s future as a superpower. But, sadly, because so many of our political “leaders” are scientifically illiterate, they have absolutely no idea what it is that made America great.
We should all be deeply worried.
MICHAEL PRAVICA
Henderson, Nevada
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