That has always been the view through shit colored glasses. Some have always bemoaned the half-life of science and engineering as some people are rendered irrelevant by rapid progress when they fail to keep up. My son, the software programmer, consequently, has little sympathy for his uncle the system consultant who does mainframe data bases which is declining. The fact is that they are both working now and making very good money. That is the problem with those who try to policize the lifes of others that they know nothing about. Watching soap operas and bemoaning the fates of imaginary people is about as useful.
You free traders always have an anecdote. As I have said, if your "competition always helps" theory were right, Computer Science programs would be full of eager high school graduates ready to jump into the harness in competition with our H1B visa guests from India.
You all can cite anecdote after anecdote, but you have no evidence to show that our American youth will respond well to the impetus you heartlessly will upon them.
American youth have little interest in competing with people whose families live on a subsistence. That was never part of the deal when Americans were thriving in the 1950s.
Your words are hollow.