Keeping Leaders Up on Technology and Science

摘要

Whenever the lights go out, traffic stops, or thieves steal people's identities, citizens turn to their government for solutions. But in an increasingly complex technological environment, leaders are as much in the dark as citizens are. The U.S. Congress once had the Office of Technology Assessment to draw on for science and technology expertise and advice. But since budget cutters eliminated OTA in 1995, legislators have been without that resource. Meanwhile, critical decisions need to be made on complex issues: How much money should go into biometric security technology, antiballistic missile defense, nano-tech development, or Mars exploration? How much arsenic is safe in drinking water? How do we prevent another blackout like that of August 2003?