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Newt Gingrich on Technology

Former Republican Representative (GA-6) and Speaker of the House


Invest in scientific revolutions: energy, space, environment

[We can meet] the triple economic challenges of an explosion in technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China & India by implementing:
  1. A new system of civil justice to reduce the burden of lawsuits and to incentivize young people to go into professions other than the law.
  2. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, & constant modernization of equipment & technology.
  3. Math & science education [that encourages] young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully with other well-educated societies.
  4. Investing in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world--particularly in energy, space, & environment.
  5. Transforming health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector.
Source: Gingrich Communications website, www.newt.org, “Issues” Sep 1, 2007

Focus on investing in science and discovery

To meet the challenge of investing in science & discovery, I believe we should focus on the following areas:
  1. Math & science education: We must fundamentally change the way we educate our children about science & discovery, to produce more math & science students.
  2. Increased funding for the NSF (National Science Foundation): Increase annual funding from $4.7 billion to $15 billion
  3. We must fund large-scale marquee projects like Internet-based astronomical data and collected.
  4. High priority for CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  5. Mobilize a movement in favor of scientific research
  6. Space: space exploration has a proven record of achieving major scientific breakthroughs.
climatology data.
  • Reserve room in science budgets for non-traditional research because peer review is ultimately a culturally conservative and risk-adverse model.
  • Prizes to advance science like the $25,000 prize Charles Lindbergh
    Source: Saving Lives and Saving Money, by Newt Gingrich, p.180-189 Sep 22, 2003

    Nanotechnology combined with biotech will transform society

    We are living through two patterns of change. The first is the enormous computer and communications revolution. We are at most only 1/5 of the way through it. The second, only now beginning to rise, is the combination of nanotechnology, biology, and information.

    Nanotechnology allows us to “grow” materials by literally adding the right atoms and molecules to one another--a material technology breakthrough that changes the way we build things and how much they weigh. One example is that nanotechnology makes possible molecular “helpers” which could hunt cancer cells or clean clogged arteries.

    The information revolution (computers and communications) impacts this technology in exponential ways, giving us better capabilities to deal with the nanoworld and with biology. It is the synergistic effect of these three systems together--nanotechnology multiplied by biology multiplied by information--that will lead to an explosion of new knowledge and new capabilities.

    Source: Savings Lives and Saving Money, by Newt Gingrich, p.173-177 Sep 22, 2003

    Supports federal investment in space for science & discovery

    Space exploration has a proven record of achieving major scientific breakthroughs that directly affect our lives both from the research that takes place in space and the process itself. Some of the most important research being done anywhere on nanotechnology is carried out by NASA.

    Space exploration has also been the most successful vehicle for translating the need to invest in science and discovery to the American people. It is a visible, tangible, results-oriented program that instills national pride and helps us quickly understand why research is important. There is something magical about space exploration that microscopes and lab coats cannot convey.

    The NASA community is aware of how incredibly important it is to continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge and its benefits to our society, starting of course with the astronauts themselves.

    Source: Saving Lives and Saving Money, by Newt Gingrich, p.189 Sep 22, 2003

    Statistical adjustment of census begets political adjustment

    The Constitution requires the census for apportioning House seats and other offices. And population patterns figure in the formulas for distributing federal money. The Founding Fathers intended that the census should be an actual count of people. The expression in the Constitution is “actual enumeration.”

    It is almost certainly those in poor neighborhoods who get undercounted. The liberal Democrats have been proposing that we eliminate the present system altogether and substitute for it something they call “statistical adjustment.” Under this system, the census would count only 90% of the people. Then a statistical adjustment would be made to get to 100%. Republicans are committed to what the Constitution says. A statistical adjustment would be unconstitutional. In addition, we are convinced that “statistical” adjustment will inevitably lead to “political” adjustment. The incentive to corrupt the census adjustment process would be virtually beyond limit.

    Source: Lessons Learned the Hard Way, by Newt Gingrich, p.136-38 Jul 2, 1998

    Other candidates on Technology: Newt Gingrich on other issues:
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    GOP: Sen.John McCain
    GOP V.P.: Gov.Sarah Palin
    Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
    Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden

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    Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
    Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
    Liberation: Gloria La Riva
    Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
    Socialist: Brian Moore
    Independent: Ralph Nader     		Abortion
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    Page last updated: Feb 08, 2010