Revenge of the Nerds

In my readings, I am finding computer geeks are starting to earn as much, and/or more, than professional athletes do. This is translating to the revenge of the nerds according to Professor David Autor, an economist at MIT.

Recently, Mark Zuckerberg - himself, a former whiz kid - made a deal to pay a $250 million compensation package to an AI whiz named Matt Deitke.  META has offered (and the deal was accepted) to a 24-year-old AI whiz. This fellow had dropped out of a doctoral program in Computer Science and co-founded a start up with around 10 employees and brought in $16.5 million from investors. His groundbreaking work earned him outstanding accolades in in AI/Computer Science. This young man entered a competition with more than 10,000 other submissions and he was one of a dozen or so to win an award, according to the New York Times. 

Obviously, there are some folks who accuse the process as causing others to lose their jobs - just as they did when the invention of the gasoline powered automobile would put blacksmiths out of employment, and so on.

Possibly the latest idea of concentration on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) will put the US back on the right track. Of course, these students need the best reading ability first, in order to follow through with the rest of subjects. 

Perhaps someone ought to educate Randi Weingarten, head of the largest Teachers Union in the country. In reading, we rate 36% in the civilized world, down from a generation ago when we were in the top 5. Co-coincidentally, ever since the Department of Education was established by Jimmy Carter, our scores have dropped regularly. Literacy does not just teach letters - it teaches possibilities.

Maybe we should put Matt Deitke or Mark Zuckerberg in charge of schools?

Thoughts anyone?

In liberty

Audrey Taggart

This is an editorial and not the official position of the Martin County Republican Executive Committee.