Recently there has been a push to reinstate the Office of Technology Assessment. This body advised Congress on science and technology, taking complex ideas or situations and making them understandable by the layperson. It was defunded (and effectively dissolved) by the Republican-led Congress in 1995.
For almost 15 years the people that create laws and pass legislation that affect your life have been flying blind. Couple that with the decrease in the general public’s understanding and appreciation (and in some cases an increase in outright hostility) of science and you have stunted progress and security in this country.
Think about how much technology and science makes your life easier on a day to day basis. Reflect on how your leisure time is involved with technology. We’re all getting older, ponder how science has already extended your life span and could make your elder years a pleasure rather than a burden.
The OTA stands to be a powerful force in properly influencing that body of politics that is supposed to serve you is making and legislating good policy.
Want to know more or how you can help? Go here.
Tags: politics, science, technology
Dude, it’s a series of tubes. That’s all. Done deal. Easy.
Holy shit, is that Carl Sagan?!
He once did a documentary on the footwear of ancient Rome.