Where are the Flying Cars? Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Where are the Flying Cars? is not really about flying cars. It's a brief discussion of science, technology and public policy, and the need to confront the reality that not all new and proposed technologies will ultimately prove to be both successful and (hopefully) environmentally benign.
We as a species have been so successful in constructing various devices and machines, as well as artificial materials, that we tend to think that with enough money and creativity we can make anything work. The desire to do so becomes especially strong when the technology is, for one reason or another, particularly attractive.
The author wishes to encourage the reader to think critically about our technological future, and not just accept at face value the ideas and predictions of others. Failure to think critically about science and technology can lead to waste of public funds and ill-conceived regulations that do little good, and may actually be harmful.
Included is a suggested energy policy for America with some of the rationales behind the recommended actions.
The reader should feel free to critique what is written, and with real and alleged breakthroughs announced almost daily, circumstances may change and cars may yet fly en-mass.
July 2015