Ah, the STAC, where once esteemed scientists gather to pen a visionary roadmap for America’s technological prowess. A grand statement of intent, so grandiose it could make even the most seasoned politician blush. ‘Without rapid action,’ they caution, as if we’ve all been sleeping on the job. And who’s Neal Lane, you ask? Oh, he’s a walking, talking history of government’s best efforts in science, from assistant to the president to the NSF director. Talk about a man with a resume that’s longer than the national debt. ‘VAST’ they call it, as if the initials alone could inspire a tech revolution. But in a nation where a new tech fad comes and goes faster than a politician’s promises, this ‘all-of-America’ enterprise seems less like a beacon of innovation and more like a Potemkin village of policy. Let’s not forget, they’re aiming for a ‘flexible’ and ‘sustainable’ enterprise, a term so vague it could apply to anything from a reality TV show to a government bureaucracy. As for ‘streamlining funding processes,’ let’s just hope they don’t make it so streamlined that only a select few can navigate it. After all, isn’t the American way about inclusion, not exclusion? And let’s not forget, these are the same people who brought us the stimulus plan, a gift that keeps on giving to consultants, but leaves taxpayers picking up the tab. But hey, at least it’s all for the greater good, right? Right?!
Protecting science, technology policy can unleash American potential, report says
