In the final analysis, when we help our children identify and develop their talents we are all
better off. But ifwe help only some children to develop only some talents, I fear that on balance
we will all be worse off.
Issue 110
"Too much time, money, and energy are spent developing new and more elaborate technology.
Society should instead focus on maximizing the use of existing technology for the immediate
benefit of its citizens."
The speaker asserts that rather than devoting its resources to developing new technology,
society should try to maximize the use of technology already available. While I would concede
that in a few areas society might be well served by adopting this recommendation, in general I
disagree with the speaker.
Admittedly, when a society's members devote their collective time, energy, talent, and money
to developing a new and more elaborate technology, the society necessarily incurs various
opportunity costs. The space program aptly illustrates this point. Virtually every additional step
in space exploration requires new technology, which diverts our resources from addressing
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pressing problems here on Earth. Of course, space technologies have imparted a myriad of
benefits in are...