To the editor:

Science, technology and innovation can bring the change we need.

America faces crises in energy, health, the environment, national security and economic competitiveness. For the past century, we have led the world in innovation, producing dramatic improvements in health, lifespan and well-being for our citizens and the world.

Today, following what some have characterized as the Bush administration's eight year war on science, our lead is in jeopardy. And shockingly, at last night's presidential debate, John McCain promised a freeze in funding science and technology innovation.

This week Obama addressed innovation, science policy and science education issues. See: www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/FactSheetScience.pdf. Subsequently, on Thursday, 61 Nobel laureates in chemistry, physics and medicine endorsed Obama, recognizing that his policies are essential to changing our nation's direction and solving our critical problems. See http://obama.3cdn.net/6667d14fd1301d9e8e_dbg0mvxzz.pdf.

We need science policy based on sound evidence and logic, not politics and polls. Recent reports in the journal Science (www.sciencemag.org, see also www.sciencedebate2008.com) show that Obama has consulted literally thousands of scientific experts in the formulation of his policy statements, while the evidence suggests McCain has only spoken to his close circle of advisors, most of whom are lobbyists with close ties to the corporate and financial kingpins who have created our present economic crisis.

Solving today's economic, energy, health care, educational, and environmental crises demands the commitment to science and innovation that Obama recognizes as essential.

Brian Black

Escanaba