This article is just one sign that the need for a more quantitatively-literate society is getting the attention of the business community. The Business Roundtable has recently published a report, Tapping America's Potential: The Education for Innovation Initiative, which also makes a case to dramatically increase the level of math and science education.
On January 31, President Bush referred to the relationship between our competitiveness as a nation and our success at improving education as well, and in particular called for large increases in spending on research (and in particular at the NSF) as well as for initiatives to train AP teachers. Be on the lookout for news and initiatives that follow up on some of these trends. One place to look is on the MAA Science Policy Committee site.