The Hill News

When it comes to important issues that are often overlooked by elected officials and political candidates, the nation’s commitment â€" or lack thereof â€" to developing our most talented minds is the poster child.
 
Conventional wisdom holds that the presidential election will be won or lost largely on the state of the economy. But while current economic sentiment is rightfully important, it is a disservice to the electorate and our future vitality and prosperity to ignore that we have no strategy, plan or system to develop our most promising talent.
 
If any candidate is looking for a sign of the consequences from neglecting this issue, the mothballing of the nation’s once storied space shuttle fleet should provide convincing evidence.
 
The shuttle’s scuttle means that the United States, which a half-century ago won the space race by landing men on the moon a mere eight years after committing itself to the cause, has, for the fores! eeable future, no means to travel into space without an assist from our past arch-rivals.
 
How did we get here?

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