When Albert Einstein died in 1955, the Washington Post featured a drawing by Herblock showing the Earth with a large sign saying, "Albert Einstein lived here." Clearly claimed as a citizen of the World, Einstein is most commonly associated with New Jersey, where he spent his last two decades. He is perhaps our state’s most recognizable figure, as well as the symbol for the universal wise man.
Einstein was amused and even uncomfortable with his status as sage. He once commented that "To punish me for my contempt for authority, Fate made me an authority myself." He knew that truth is not what an authority says it is, however wise the saying may sound, but rather it is what becomes understandable by repeated tests against the evidence. Whether in science, religion, or human affairs, he believed that one must continually test new ideas and work to overcome dogma, assuming “an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and our own being.”It was this attitude that brought Einstein to America. Disgusted by the growing Nazi authoritarianism of 1930s Germany, Einstein sought a true democratic society where the ideas of a former patent clerk could be tested on a par with those of anyone else. Although Princeton was a quiet, somewhat conservative town, the United States offered in our democracy the scientific, social, and political ferment he sought. And he brought a lot of wisdom along, I think most of us would agree.
If he were looking today, would Einstein move here? Are we eagerly developing the new thinking that will take us into the future? Some days I wonder whether we’re doing everything possible to see that Einstein's attitude would flourish still in New Jersey and America.
I wrote at greater length about Einstein’s time in New Jersey for the official blog commemorating our state’s 350th anniversary.
A Long-Ago Oversight
Recently, I received a call from Edwin Gall of Monroe Township, a World War II veteran who, due to a long-ago oversight, had never received several medals that he earned during his service to our country. I contacted the Army on his behalf, and earlier this week I had the honor of finally presenting to him the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar.
If you know a veteran who also is due a medal or award that he or she never received, please e-mail me or call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT so that our nation may properly honor our heroes.
Protecting Scientific Research
Over the next few months, the U.S. House will consider the spending bills that will fund each federal agency in 2015. To help guide the debate, I recently led 86 of my Democratic and Republican colleagues in a letter to the Appropriations Committee urging sustained funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The Office of Science’s research has been integral to the development of technologies such as MRI and PET scans, new composite materials for military hardware and motor vehicles, DNA sequencing, electric vehicle batteries, and much more. As my colleagues and I wrote, “Scientific research is the foundation for the innovative solutions that will enable us to overcome many of our greatest challenges – from economic stagnation and dependence on foreign energy to curing diseases and addressing threats to our national security.”
Learn About Options for College
As you may know, America’s military service academies provide a four-year college education, with full scholarship, to young men and women who pledge to serve as the next generation of leaders in the U.S. military services.
On Saturday, May 10, I’ll host an Academy Day for high school and middle school students and their families to learn more about the U.S. military service academies. Presentations will be made by the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy. ROTC representatives will also be available to answer questions.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
North Brunswick Municipal Building
710 Hermann Road
North Brunswick, New Jersey
In the weeks ahead I’ll also be hosting two college affordability workshops for prospective students to learn more about navigating the financial aid process. Presentations will be made by representatives from Rutgers University Office of Financial Aid (OFA) – who will present information relevant to all students, whether or not they’re interested in attending Rutgers – and New Jersey Higher Education State Affordability Authority (HESAA).
Monday, May 19, 2014
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
East Brunswick Public Library
2 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Ewing Township Municipal Building
2 Jake Garzio Drive
Ewing Township, New Jersey
Decisions Made in Ignorance Are Costly
For 23 years, Congress had an insightful, non-partisan agency aimed at providing Members of Congress and their staff with expert advice on technological aspects of public policy. From 1972 to 1995 the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) created reports on topics that were striking in their continued relevance: computer software security, disposal of chemical weapons, teaching with technology, bioenergy and more. You can see the full collection of OTA reports online.
OTA was an agency dedicated to serve Congress. When Newt Gingrich came to power in the 1990s, he eliminated OTA to cut costs. But this turned out to be a foolish move, as OTA had always saved taxpayers far more money than it cost. An OTA study on Agent Orange, for instance, helped save the government $10 million. Another report recommended changes in computer systems at the Social Security Administration that saved more than $350 million. Studies on the Synthetic Fuels Corporation helped save tens of billions of dollars.
Although in ending OTA Gingrich said Congress could get help elsewhere, that hasn’t worked. When OTA shut down, technological topics did not become less relevant to the work of Congress. They just became less understood. And scientific thinking lost its toehold on Capitol Hill, with troubling consequences for the ways Congress approaches all issues – not just those that are explicitly scientific.
Earlier this week, I sponsored an amendment to restore a minimal level of funding to OTA to help the agency get back on its feet. Unfortunately, it was defeated on a vote in the House. I’ll keep trying, though, working with my colleagues in the Senate.
Funding OTA would be a minimal expense that would pay off many times over by averting foolish or wasteful policies. Decisions made in ignorance are costly.
Sincerely,
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
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