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USTAR Update
Time magazine’s latest cover story makes the case for the USTAR economic development initiative about as well as anything USTAR’s supporters have said or written.
Entitled “Are We Losing Our Edge?” the lengthy article describes how basic research and development have driven our country’s economic success and documents the loss of focus on science and technology over the last several years. The nation’s leaders now recognize the seriousness of the situation and major attempts are being made to reverse the decline.
Without a major science and technology initiative like USTAR, Utah would be in danger of being mostly left out of the new focus on R&D. Here are some excerpts and paraphrasing from the article:
“After more than a half-century of unchallenged superiority in virtually every field of science and technology, from basic research to product development, America is starting to lose ground to other nations.”
“Unless things change, they (countries like China, South Korea, and India) will overtake us, and the breathtaking burst of discovery that has been driving our economy for the past half-century will be over.” Six countries, Israel, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Iceland and South Korea, devote a larger share of their economy to science than does the United States. The U.S. is only 25th in the world in the percentage of 24-year-olds with science degrees.
But the country is waking up. President Bush is proposing the American Competitiveness Initiative, which would double federal funding of research in basic areas like nanotechnology, supercomputing and alternative energy. (With USTAR, Utah’s research universities will have a better chance of obtaining some of that research money.)
Most of the world-changing technologies and medical breakthroughs of the last half-century have come out of basic research and development. If the next round of breakthroughs occur in other countries, the U.S. will lag behind. The article notes that one reason the U.S. has been so successful economically was that Hitler’s aggression drove many scientists out of Europe and into the United States, and the desperate need to defeat Hitler galvanized the United States into pouring money into defense research, which resulted in numerous powerful new technologies. The space race added to the pace of research in the late 1950s, and many large corporations, like AT&T, IBM, and Xerox gave scientists free rein to work on a wide variety of technologies.
It all paid off in an “avalanche of astonishing and profitable technologies . . . from computer chips to fiber-optic cables, to lasers, to gene splicing and more.” A 2003 National Academies report said that no fewer than 19 mutibillion-dollar industries resulted from fundamental research in information technology alone.
Despite the amazing results of basic R&D, some people still have the idea that academic research is “fuzzy, ivory-tower stuff that probably doesn’t pay off.” They couldn’t be more wrong.
USTAR Update Archive
Transportation Watch
Transportation planners say the 2030 plan must be accelerated or congestion will quickly become intolerable. If you missed yesterday’s Transportation Watch feature article you can read it here (scroll down).
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News Highlights
Sen. Chris Buttars said to be 'gravely ill', hospitalized; tells his Senate colleagues his controversial legislation is his legacy, a life's work of promoting conservative morals (Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and Deseret Morning News).
Minority children are far below U.S. average, while white kids do OK, testing shows (Tribune).
Jim Matheson will be very tough to beat, says political columnist Bob Bernick (Morning News).
David Wilde seeking new term on Salt Lake County Council (Morning News and Tribune).
New report says nuclear waste is safe to transport, but reprocessing may change dynamics (Morning News). |
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Quote of the Day
“It probably is not unusual to see the Legislature introduce measures that encroach on the executive and judicial branches of government; there is a constant struggle for power as was anticipated when our government was first designed. What is unusual is the blatant way this struggle is being conducted this year as the Legislature continues ‘drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.’"
-- Op-ed by David Patton, director for the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Utah (Morning News) |
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Friday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates |
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Hard Budget Choices
Excellent analysis by Morning News reporters outlining the tough legislative budget decisions ahead, even with a billion dollar surplus.
Washington Watch
Hatch Vs. Bennett On Asbestos?
Sen. Orrin Hatch defends asbestos bill (see press release), but Sen. Bob Bennett joins a group of GOP senators calling for the bill's complete rewrite (Ely Times).
Utah Student Wins Environmental Award
Brent Singleton, a senior at Ogden's Bonneville High School, has won the President's Environmental Youth Award. In April, Singleton will travel to Washington, D.C., where he and other PEYA winners will meet Pres. Bush in an award ceremony at the White House (see press release).
Blog Watch
OneUtah is saddened by these comments from a KSL comment board on Mayor Rocky Anderson's gay rights award... Political Gospel of Mark asks: "Is it time to send Jim Matheson back to the private sector so he can spend more time with his wife and new baby?"... Paul Rolly has a post on the "less than tranquil" Utah County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner (see also here)... Reach Upward responds to LaVarr Webb's Thurs. UPD publisher's opinion on tax cuts vs. investment (for a more negative response, see the comments at the bottom of this Senate Site post -- scroll down)... The Utah Amicus has a post on the food sales tax... Dee's Dotes says: "If [the origin of life] bill passes, I guarantee you there are going to be some very, very unhappy science teachers out there (I work with one of them)" (see also here and here).
Podcast Watch
The InsideUtah.com podcast by Jennifer Napier-Pearce this week features Utah House Minority Leader Ralph Becker on the funding priorities of state Democrats (:36); Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, on why his group opposes cutting the food tax (8:05); and bookseller Catherine Weller on some new favorite reads (16:30).
I-15 NOW Groundbreaking
The Utah Department of Transportation will break ground for the I-15 NOW (New Ogden Weber) expansion project today at 12:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, UDOT Executive Director John Njord, Sen. Scott Jenkins and Rep. Brad Dee will participate. For more info, click here.
Casual Friday
The Truth About Golf
By LaVarr Webb
Why is fishing undeniably superior to golf?
Just thought I’d throw out that good, philosophical, tantalizing, riveting and impudent question to infuriate as many of my golfer friends as possible and to help everyone unwind from the 4th week of the legislative session.
After a week of politics, it’s always good to start the weekend feeling a little deep anger and hatred.
The only thing more boring than playing golf is watching it in TV. I’d rather be duct taped to a chair, have my eyes toothpicked open, and be forced to watch John Kerry speeches.
Here’s another deep philosophical question, well worth pondering:
Is golf a sissy sport?
Really, what can possibly be the attraction? What’s so fun about smacking little balls around a finely-manicured lawn, tossing sand in little ravines?
Now fishing, there’s a sport.
But I will save my essay on the superiority of fishing for later. I’m too tired from the Legislature to do much more justice to this topic.
I will admit, though, that my attitude may simply reflect certain inadequacies deep in my psyche dating to a profound incident back in 1968 when, as a 17-year-old in high school, my girlfriend, Becky, beat me (pretty bad) at a run-down little miniature golf joint in Orem. Yes, it still hurts. |
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Friday
February 10, 2006
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Feb 10: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 10: League of Women Voters' daily legislative update on 88.3 FM KCPW, 7:40 a.m.
- Feb 10: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 a.m. will feature Martha Bradley, Honors Program Director, on the new think tank courses on bio-ethics, rural Utah and religion at the University of Utah; plus Salt Lake businesswoman Babs DeLay, who organizes the annual productions of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues along the Wasatch Front.
- Feb 10: American Society for Public Administration Luncheon, 12 p.m., Utah State Center for the Blind, 250 N 1950 W room 227, Salt Lake City. The luncheon will address the topic: "Assisting People Who Are Homeless: Emerging Strategies for Addressing Needs." For more information see ASPA website.
- Feb 10: Cache County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner, keynote address by Senator Hatch. Governor Huntsman and local legislators will speak at the reception prior to dinner. Contact David Butterfield for more information at dgb1533@aol.com.
- Feb 10: Salt Lake City Shundahai Network to host a showing of the documentary “American Experience: Meltdown at Three-Mile Island," 7 p.m., Free Speech Zone, 2144 South Highland Drive, Suite 130, Salt Lake City. The film will be preceded by three short films, "Vanishing Prayer," Mother's Day Gathering 2000," and "Nuclear Nightmare." For more information visit http://www.shundahai.org/upcomingevents.htm or 801-533-0128.
- Feb 11: Davis County Democrats monthly breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Granny Annie's Restaurant, 286 N 400 W Kaysville. Please bring an item of food (non perishable) for the Davis County Food Bank. Special guests, Kim R. Burningham, Chairman of the Utah State Board of Education, and Vik Arnold, Communications Director for the Utah Education Association will be present. Bring your questions concerning Utah Education issues now being debated by the Legislature.
- Feb 11: Senator Orrin Hatch meeting to discuss issues affecting Northern Utah, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lindquist Alumni Center, Weber State University, 1305 41st Street, Ogden. Please RSVP to kitty.dunn@orrin2006.com or call 801-856-0267.
- Feb 11: Utah Rally for Peace presents free special screening of "911 In Plane Site" by David von Kleist, and "The Great Conspiracy, The 9/11 News Special You Never Saw," by Barry Zwicker, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, Meeting Room C located in the basement at 210 E. 400 S. David von Kleist is a radio personality in Missouri with a show called "The Power Hour." Barry Zwicker is a Canadian TV Journalist who produced this 75 minute show for Canadian Television.
- Feb 13: Hinckley Institute of Politics Political Forum "The Armenian Genocide Debate, 8:30 a.m. Talk by Guenter Lewy, Professor Emeriti us of Political Science, University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Cosponsors Middle East Center and Political Science Department.
- Feb 13: Chamber Transportation Committee, 12 p.m., Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Feb 13: State Chamber Government Affairs, 12 to 2 pm, 4112 State Office Bldg.
- Feb 13: 2006 Utah Hotel Lodging Association Legislative Dinner, Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Grand Ballroom C, 255 S West Temple, Salt Lake City. To RSVP call 801-359-0104.
- Feb 14: Chamber Board Executive Committee, 7:30 am, Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room
- Feb 14: Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, 12 noon, Beehive Room, East Capitol.
- Feb 15: Utah Information Technology Association Legislative Leadership Update Breakfast. Featuring Senate President John Valentine, House Speaker Greg Curtis, and House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander. For more information, see UITA website.
- Feb 16: Chamber Healthcare Committee, 12 noon, Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Feb 16: Meet and Greet with Pete Ashdown, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate, 5 p.m., home of Michael and Muffy Ferro 1425 Harvard Ave, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 16: Rep. Brad Dee Townhall Meeting, 6 p.m., Riverdale Senior Citizens Center, 4433 S 900 W, Riverdale. Guests include Gov. Huntsman and Lt. Gov. Herbert.
- Feb 16: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., County Commission Chambers room, Davis County Courthouse, 28 E State Street, Farmington. All Davis Democrats are urged to attend. The general public is also invited.
- Feb 17: Last day for legislators to prioritize bills and other programs with fiscal impact.
- Feb 17: Utah Farm Bureau Day at the Legislature. More than 100 volunteer leaders from within the organization of 20,000 farmers and ranchers will visit with their legislators and discuss issues pertinent and relative to agriculture.
- Feb 17: Utah Issues and AARP Utah "Citizens' Day," 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Radisson Hotel Downtown, 215 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Have lunch with your legislator and discuss the issues that are important to you. Free continental breakfast and a lunch will be provided. For more information and to register for this free event, visit http://www.utahissues.org/.
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- See the entire calendar
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