The National Academies Press

Currently Skimming:

A NEW BEGINNING . . . OR A NEW END?
Pages 75-77

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.

From page 75... ... Speaking in support of the initial competitiveness legislation introduced in the Senate after the National Academies' effort, Bill Frist, then Senate majority leader, noted that "authorizations for these programs would total $73 billion over the next 5 years; when we consider that over the next 5 years our economy will exceed $76 trillion -- a [0.1%] investment for the future seems a small price to pay for our continued economic security and leadership in the world." Senator Lamar Alexander noted on the occasion when he introduced legislation to implement the Gathering Storm report's recommendations, "If we only spend money on war, welfare, Social Security, debt, hurricanes, disasters, and flu, we're not going to have an economy strong enough to pay the bill for those urgent needs." There is, of course, little political gain in taking the lead in addressing challenging problems -- even serious problems -- that most of the public has not yet recognized to 5 Read the entire page →
From page 76... ... ‘Last week,' he said, ‘while the media covered Iraq and [recently fired] US attorneys, the Senate spent three days debating and passing perhaps the most important piece of legislation of this two-year session.'" Broder went on to assert that "Alexander's larger point is that this is the model Congress and the president need to follow -- if any of the major challenges facing the country are to be met." Indeed, the constructive bipartisanship reflected, at least to date, in addressing the nation's competitiveness-jobs-quality of life issue poses an excellent example for the resolution of many challenges. Read the entire page →
From page 77... ... This should be of concern to all. Although only the passage of time can offer certainty, the available evidence strongly suggests that America and the world are on the precipice of a change of seismic proportions -- a tipping point -- similar to the one that saw the fraction of American workers engaged in agriculture plummet from 84% in the early 1800s to eventually settle at about 1%. Read the entire page →

From page 75...

... Speaking in support of the initial competitiveness legislation introduced in the Senate after the National Academies' effort, Bill Frist, then Senate majority leader, noted that "authorizations for these programs would total $73 billion over the next 5 years; when we consider that over the next 5 years our economy will exceed $76 trillion -- a [0.1%] investment for the future seems a small price to pay for our continued economic security and leadership in the world." Senator Lamar Alexander noted on the occasion when he introduced legislation to implement the Gathering Storm report's recommendations, "If we only spend money on war, welfare, Social Security, debt, hurricanes, disasters, and flu, we're not going to have an economy strong enough to pay the bill for those urgent needs." There is, of course, little political gain in taking the lead in addressing challenging problems -- even serious problems -- that most of the public has not yet recognized to 5

Read the entire page →

From page 76...

... ‘Last week,' he said, ‘while the media covered Iraq and [recently fired] US attorneys, the Senate spent three days debating and passing perhaps the most important piece of legislation of this two-year session.'" Broder went on to assert that "Alexander's larger point is that this is the model Congress and the president need to follow -- if any of the major challenges facing the country are to be met." Indeed, the constructive bipartisanship reflected, at least to date, in addressing the nation's competitiveness-jobs-quality of life issue poses an excellent example for the resolution of many challenges.

Read the entire page →

From page 77...

... This should be of concern to all. Although only the passage of time can offer certainty, the available evidence strongly suggests that America and the world are on the precipice of a change of seismic proportions -- a tipping point -- similar to the one that saw the fraction of American workers engaged in agriculture plummet from 84% in the early 1800s to eventually settle at about 1%.

Read the entire page →

← Previous Chapter Skim

Next Chapter Skim →

This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.

A NEW BEGINNING . . . OR A NEW END? Pages 75-77

A NEW BEGINNING . . . OR A NEW END?
Pages 75-77