U.S. Without a Flat-World Clue

Friedman tries to sound the alarm for U.S. policy makers about how the nation needs to respond to the challenges of the "flat world." Foremost among his recommendations or urgings is a pollicy that promotes education in math and science as a national priority. Unfortunately, our elected leaders don't have a clue and are in fact acting in a highly destructive manner--disadvantaging future generations of Americans even further relative to global competitors who place a very high priority on developing a technically competent workforce. The following news excerpt summarizes the misguided thinking in Washington today that values tax cuts and war over investments in social and economic security:

"Republican leaders of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced a bill last week that would cut up to $15 billion from the government’s student-loan programs over the next five years. The reductions would meet the panel’s obligations as part of a broader congressional effort to reduce the federal budget deficit. The new bill increases the savings from the student loan program from the $8.6 billion cut proposed in the reauthorization bill for the Higher Education Act by reducing the subsidies private lenders receive from the government and by making it more expensive for borrowers to lock in fixed interest rates when consolidating federal student loans. The new bill incorporates that measure and adds to it, increases fees charged to lenders, and makes it still more difficult for borrowersto lock in below-market rates."

Contrast this with another news item this week: "China Luring Scholars to Make Universities Great. In an effort to transform its top universities into the world’s best within a decade, China is spending billions of dollars to woo big-name scholars and build first-class research laboratories. According to the New York Times, the model is to recruit top foreign-trained Chinese and Chinese-American specialists, set them up in well equipped labs, surround them with the brightest students and give them tremendous leeway. In a minority of cases, they receive American-style pay; in others, they are lured by the cost of living, generous housing, and the laboratories."