Scientist shortage? Maybe not

"Engineering has been underemphasized in this country for a generation. Our high schools fall far short of the mark in science and math. This helps explain why only four percent of American college students have chosen engineering as a profession.

At the same time, American companies must reinvigorate their technical efforts…Technology is what makes people and countries feel wealthy… Technology is also the source of competitive advantage.

An American renewal will be built on technology. GE’s R&D budget has not been cut. And that’s a course of action I’d recommend to every company that wants to get through the economic crisis even stronger than before."

Bullshit. Engineers and programmers are among the few professions who can create their own jobs, plus some. Where do people think these employers came from in the first place? There's no shortage of opportunities for someone to invent a new product and build a company around it, and inventors are often engineers.