Neal Stephenson takes Econom Ics lessons from [Star Wars]. Scientists and technologists (Engin Eer-s) have the same uneasy status in our society as the Jedi in the Galactic Republic. They are scorned by the cultural left and the cultural right, and young people avoid science and math classes in hordes (Two Cultures). The tedious particulars of keeping ourselves alive, comfortable and free are being taken offline (Off Shoring) to countries where people are happy to sweat the details, as long as we have some foreign exchange left to send their way. Nothing is more seductive than to think that we, like the Jedi, could be masters of the most advanced technologies while living simple lives: to have a geek standard of living and spend our copious LeisUre time vegging out.

User Options Recent Changes Help Page