[krutulis]

I don't think that Bill Gates claims decent measurement is sufficient for the kind of progress he seeks but rather claims that (in most cases) it is necessary.

I suspect one answer to Mathbabe's question "what can a non-academic mathematician do that makes the world a better place?" might be to highlight and explain the kinds of logical dependencies that are so often obscured by polemics.

I cringe at the suggestion Bill Gates is naive. Anyone who has spent the time he has in corporate America will be well aware of the challenges and politicization of measurement.