Friday, April 17, 1987

Foundation could mean jobs.

The proposed Alaska Science Foundation could become the driving force behind creating long-term employment and state tax revenue. This same proposal could become another liberal battering ram against industrial capitalism.

To prevent the latter, I suggest two proposals. The first is to use the Alaska Science Foundation to create a Strategic Defense Initiative manufacturing sciences research institute at the University of Alaska. The Alaska Science Foundation funding emphasis should concentrate on producing functional prototype systems for hydrogen plasma-arc continuous casting, robotic capital good production in Anchorage.

The second suggestion is to legislate that the expenditure for liberal arts, social studies and demography shall not exceed 5 percent of total annual Alaska Science Foundation funding.

When the Eastern establishment professors who have successfully prevented the introduction of manufacturing sciences to the University of Alaska hear of my second suggestion, they will probably scream their heads off. Let them scream impotently; Alaskans need jobs.

Charles E. Duncan