Here in the US, It's Politics Aplenty

We're aflutter with politics today. First, people are flocking to ScienceDebate2008, a group attempting to get clear stances from political candidates about their scientific views. Barack Obama stepped up and answered the group's 14 questions (John McCain has said he will answer them too). In response to a question about genetic advances and public concern, Obama says he was "a long-time supporter" of GINA, and that he "introduced the Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2007 aimed at ensuring the safety and accuracy of [genetic] testing." Read all the responses here.

Meanwhile, bloggers are finding out more about the views of McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin. Over at the Tree of Life, Jonathan Eisen quotes Palin responding to a question about whether evolution should be presented as "only a theory" while giving creationism equal time in schools: "I believe society can have healthy debates on scientific theories, so equal representation of creation and evolution shouldn’t be an offense."

And if you want to take these concepts to another level, check out this New York Times piece about a book called "Closing the Innovation Gap," which is described as "the latest call to action during the last several years by scientists, technologists and political leaders worried about the [US's] future competitiveness in technology."