The following excerpt from Ayn Rand’s, The Fountainhead, shows a fictional yet accurate example of how modern general public views science. It is an unfortunate truth that has trickled down to the American youth who shuns math, science, and engineering while the youth in China and India embrace these topics. Wynand, Rand’s media mogul character, understood the mindset of the public and gave them the outrageous entertainment they craved. Unfortunately, we experience a similar mindset today when we see Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jerry Yang are stars in China and India while the youth in America idolize rap artists.
The first campaign of the Banner was an appeal for money for a charitable cause. Displayed side by side, with an equal amount of space, the Banner ran two stories: one about a struggling young scientist, starving in a garret, working on a great invention; the other about a chambermaid, the sweetheart of an executed murderer, awaiting the birth of her illegitimate child. One story was illustrated with scientific diagrams; the other – with the picture of a loose-mouth girl wearing a traffic expression and disarranged clothes. The Banner asked its readers to help both these unfortunates. It received nine dollars and forty-five cents for the young scientist; it received one thousand and seventy-seven dollars for the unwed mother. Gail Wynand called a meeting of his staff. He put down on the table the paper carrying both stories and the money collected for both funds. “Is there anyone here who doesn’t understand?” he asked. No one answered. He said: “Now you all know the kind of paper the Banner is to be.”
Now you know where future innovation will take place, that is unless something is done about it.
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