US squandering its technology lead

[Squeegee]

Not that this is a surprise for anyone who works in the tech industry...

http://news.com.com/U.S.%2Btech%2Bedge%2Bgetting%2Bdull%2C%2Bcompanies%2Bsay/2100-1028_3-5579710.html?tag=nefd.top

Some choice quotes:

• "The downside could be very, very dramatic, especially as other countries target research universities" and as foreign students are no longer as drawn to top-tier U.S. institutions, said Barrett, who told an audience at a press conference here about the wealth of engineers graduating from Chinese universities.

Huh? If we had a decent school system that actually taught critical math and science skills, U.S. institutions wouldn't have to look off-shore for decent students in the first place! :crazy:

• More federal tax dollars should be spent on basic research through "sustained investments and informed policies."

Lol. Like we're really going to get more tax dollars and informed policies for science education and research from our current administration.

• "The real serious problem with America's intellectual base are policies that make it so hard for bright people to come here," said Smith, who opposes higher federal spending on research. The task force "might want to rethink the entire Patriot Act."

I thought the Patriot Act was enacted to protect the health and well being of America, you mean it's actually hurting us?!!? :eyes:

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. In this country, if you are an engineer or scientist, you can't

even afford to buy a house in the areas where the jobs are. The incentive simply isn't there for the best and brightest to do this kind of work anymore.

[Squeegee]

5. It's an incentive to stay home

... especially if you live in Asia, chances are you'll get a decent job outsourced right into your own neighborhood. ;)

[slor]

2. The sad part is...

as a country with limited oil resources, we should be leap years ahead in research for alternative fuel sources, but instead we get embroiled in costly, immoral, and ultimately, unsustainable wars for the shit. We could be developing the technology, and manufacturing that same technology, but are held prisoner to the greed of big oil. It really is just dumbfounding.

[Squeegee]

6. The problem is more fundamental than that

... to have any kind of technology industry, including alternative energy technologies, you need skilled workers and a hefty "brain-trust". The U.S. is losing both, mostly due to poor educational standards and a government with a corporate agenda that puts the needs of corporations above the health of the country.

[slor]

9. In the long term, you are right...

but I am talking about current technology, wind mills, solar panels etc., that we could be manufacturing right now, and on massive scale. We have not suffered a brain drain, that would prevent that from happening now or a even a few years ago.

[punpirate]

3. Smith is a complete asshole...

... but he's got a point about the Patriot Act. (Smith, from the CEI, is the guy who said, at the height of the debate about media consolidation, that the government should just sell off all the frequency rights to private companies and get the debate over with.)

Still, a large part of the problem is a decline in higher education that is directly attributable to corporate weaseling and lobbying on taxes. Their share of the state and federal taxes that fund state land-grant colleges and universities has dropped precipitously in the last three decades. Corporations in this country are the major and principal beneficiaries of that college system, and yet, they've starved it for the sake of higher profits, so it's clearly a case of eating the milk cow, then complaining about there being no cream. (I think it was Idaho that last year spent more money on its prison system than its state university system.)

I also have to wonder about the suggestion to put more money into defense R&D--that benefits only one small chunk of industry, and the technological benefits don't trickle down to the commercial level for a long time, and sometimes never, because of secrecy concerns.

[Ready4Change]

4. We also are squandaring tremendous money making opportunities.

As oil runs out, alternatives will become desireable, then essential. By not getting ahead of this ball, we guarantee ourselves to be rolled over by it.

Similar with Kyoto. By ignoring CO2 limits, we disencourange domestic development of CO2 controlling technology. And those are going to become HUGE money makers in the future.

Long term economic fortunes being thrown away for short term stock price burps. The great business tycoons of the past would be mortified.

[Squeegee]

7. There are more immediate technologies being pushed out

... such as stem-cell research and cloning. Due to relatively hostile and short-sighted governmental policies, many U.S. scientists are leaving to Europe and Asia to continue their research. Soon we'll see all sorts of profitable and patented medical technologies coming from England and China, and the U.S. will be left out in the cold staring at it's own navel.

[Squeegee]

8. Then again, what do you expect from this administration

... that puts religion and ideology above science and reason.