"If they are smart enough to succeed in those fields, they will be smart enough to realize that few of them are going to be well-paid -- and very unlikely to be well-paid compared to the amount of effort they put into the degree versus what they could do with other degrees requiring similar or less effort."
Well in that case we might as well turn off the lights because America is screwed. If Americans are willing to let short term self-interest and greed take priority over the long-term welfare and security of our nation then we probably deserve what will come pass in that circumstance. For me personally, I would be more than happy to spend years of hard work in the university and then afterward take a low-paying job if I was able to find something that could be of help to my country in terms of its security and prosperity.
An army of MBA's did not put a man on the moon, an army of MBA's did not invent the atomic bomb, and an army of MBA's is not going to do sh*t to keep America at the forefront of technology.
Much of Intels breakthru tech occured in their R&D and production facilities in Israel.
In some ways....much of what is making biggy coin for Intel is actually old shelf.
Intel hits the speed dial...and someone in Israel puts another past shelved discovery into production when the market looks viable.
Israel has been a suprise in this area,
Her military has some very innovative assets with high open structure* ability for future expansion.
Python 4 and soon to enter service Python 5 air to air missile reveal Rafael/IDF's prowess.
Many,many other systems to margin here as a forwarding point.
I would imagine that Israels IT and Nano R&D are connected with the U.S. Military at some level.
Hopefully...both nations continue to benefit form this relationship.
Instead of these Brainy Jews going to India and all points of the compass to make money.
I would imagine some of them are high security protection realities.
IT and Nano tech is serious stuff.
Its margined that Nano tech can now be inserted into Earth Orbit to castrate a Satlillite after they become infected.
Leave the Nano on the satillite dormant,
Kill it inside of a few minutes at the push of a buttom when its time.
Same for other asset control here on Earth.
Egypt rolls its M1A1'a up to the Israeli border in stagging for an attack.
Israel lets them cross the border,
then turns them off : )
They become a foriegn sale possibility for Israel after the conflict.
maybe sell them back to Egypt : )
anyhoo...hopefully U.S. and Israel can navigate this important science of our times with Primacy success.