This sounds great and increased participation of technically-trained people is sorely needed. There've been some stirrings toward this over here across the (oth

This sounds great and increased participation of technically-trained people is sorely needed. There've been some stirrings toward this over here across the (other) pond: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09emily.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09emily.html?pagew... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientists_and_Engineers_for_America http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientists_and_Engineers_for_Am... http://www.physicstoday.org/daily_edition/science_and_the_media/1.2580970 http://www.physicstoday.org/daily_edition/science_and_the_me... it is worth remembering that inside-track "experts" come with their own set of tradeoffs, especially when they have unchallenged influence - think Mcnamara and Kissinger, Rice and Wolfowitz, and Summers and gang.