Are Silicon Valley's Glory Days Over?

Hugh Pickens writes "Pete Carey writes in the Mercury News that there are 'clear warning signs' that Silicon Valley has entered 'a new phase of uncertainty' in which its standing as a tech center is at risk and that decisive action by business, government and education is needed if the region is to retain its standing as the world's center of technical innovation. 'It could be that Silicon Valley has a different future coming,' says Russell Hancock. 'It's not a given that we will continue to be the epicenter of innovation.' Among the troubling indicators in the Silicon Valley Index (PDF): 90,000 jobs lost in the last two years; the influx of foreign science and engineering talent has slowed; venture capital funding has declined; per capita income is down 5 percent from 2007; and the number of people working as contractors rather than full-time employees is rising. Adding to the valley's problems is a malfunctioning state government that is shortchanging investment in education and infrastructure."

Comments

Re:Fewer jobs? More H-1bs!

[tjstork]

But of course, all of those 5.700.000.000 people from outside America aren't as smart or deserving as real Americans...

You know, I'm sick of the fine and dandy people that somehow seem to think that they are entitled to sell their products from around America. If these 5.7 billion people around the world are so damned smart, why are they unable to build up their fricking countries rather than unload all their crap on us. Frankly, I would just as soon bar all imports of any good whatsoever and just have the USA explore space and deep seas to get needed raw materials. The rest of the world can go fuck itself.

Re:Fewer jobs? More H-1bs!

[Kjella]

If these 5.7 billion people around the world are so damned smart, why are they unable to build up their fricking countries rather than unload all their crap on us. Frankly, I would just as soon bar all imports of any good whatsoever (...) The rest of the world can go fuck itself.

Because it's making us profitable and the US debt slaves? I'm sorry, but that your country is full of idiots with loose credit is you fucking yourself over.

Re:You should sell your computer for the homeless

[tjstork]

Tough shit your son is too stupid for college anyways.

And that is supposed to make me somehow believe that medical payments for you than my own interests, how? Seems to me that if you don't like me that much, I may as well let your illness run its course.