Flat World

Been reading a most interesting and thought provoking book. "The Wrold is Flat" by Thomas Friedman.

Friedman explores what he call the flattening of the world. The "leveling" of the playing field for commerce enabled by several factors. Mainly by communication. The internet allows instananeous communication by anyone anywhere. This is really what allows outsourcing and offshoring. When one adds the education factor- the US is lagging the rest of the world ,mainly Asia, in producion of scientists and engineers our ability to compete in this "flat world" will become severly compromised.

All is not lost. However, our politicians must reverse the lack of incenitves to those interested in a scientific or mathmatic or engineering career. And reverse the continued cut in funding of basic research.

As long as the present adminsitration and its policies remain in control I fear the situation will continue to degrade.