Another smart move by Obama. The Republican years were littered with religion taking precedence over leading science. Bush and the GOP were also content with allowing business to limit new initiatives and watch the world go by. Not only will that change, but Obama wants the US to step forward and be the leading country of science in the world.
"I believe it is not in our character, American character, to follow — but to lead. And 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 GDP to research and development," Obama said in a speech at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.Elections really do matter.
"We will not just meet but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race," he said.
Obama said the investments he is proposing would lead to breakthroughs, such as solar cells as cheap as paint and green buildings that produce all the energy they consume.
