Slashdot Mirror
Did the US Take the Back Seat In Science In 2009?
tcd004 writes "In the PBS NewsHour's roundup of the biggest science news of the year, Neil DeGrasse Tyson dropped this doozie: '[Scientific leadership] drives the economic strength and security of nations. The fall is not from a cliff. More like a slow, downward slide — almost imperceptible from day to day. But as the years pass America will have descended from leaders to players to merely followers as we fade to insignificance, at best hitching a ride on the innovations of others.'"
Massive offshoring, and importing of guest workers, has driven the salaries of many STEM workers below a living wage. US citizens are pushed aside to make room for the flood of offshore workers. Needless to say, this situation discourages Americans from pursuing a STEM career. Smart Americans are studying to go into finance, or something. If the US has not already lost it's technology edge, it soon will.
... demise of this country started about the same time that religious belief started to decline. The educational system is almost entirely under the control, certainly on the university level, of those that believe there is no God. As the unbelievers took control the sytem started to crumble and yet they almost entirely blame religion.
I'm sorry that things are going so poorly in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar.
That is all.
You mention WW2, but the US got MOST of its technology FROM its allies and the axis powers. Radar, computers, the jet engine, the list goes on and on.
And I think this is significant, for a long time the US has been "cheating", a lot of the tech they developed wasn't developed by them at all, or at best in cooperation with others. And the US has become less good at working together and the rest of the world has less reasons to work together.
The americans got a lousy reputation, I am sure most here are aware that being america's allie is a good way to get yourself attacked by them. Vietnam promised independence, then had millions killed by the US, Iraq was an ally, so was the Taliban. Even western allies are not safe with the US having an attack plan ready for The Netherlands if any of its citizens would come up for war crimes. America would rather invade a friendly nation then have one of its citizens face justice for war crimes.
Internally, the US ain't doing much better. "United" states? Don't make me laugh.
But the US doesn't have to worry to much, as bad as it is doing, the rest of the world ain't doing much better. And you never know what the next big thing will be and who will invent it and who gets to benefit from it.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Really? First, I am a Libertarian that worked in the University world, followed by long RD stints in various locations starting in the 80's. I was on the ground floor of a number of interesting items (worked at CDC in 80-81 and witnessed what really happened with HIV amongst other things). So, with that said, please, tell us how it really went. Please explain how reagan and W helped science.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.