“How many agricultural innovations have been given away to other countries?
How many electronic innovations have been given away to other countries?
How many health/medical innovations have been given away to other countries?”
Absolutely spot on. in a competitive world you have to benefit from what you do best. We don’t. For example, we spend billions and billions of dollars on research and development of drugs and biomedical devices in the US. Instead of making this a focus of US exports around the world, we let foreign governments turn a blind eye to (or perhaps participate in) blatant patent infringement. At the same time we decide politically that we need to take apart our medical system, which in large measure drives the innovations in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.
In general I think we have become self-flagellating apologists to the world and have stopped making the ongoing efforts that are necessary to protect ourselves against a world that has long been envious of us. Many have wanted us to fall for a long time. One of the best weapons they’ve had against us is our own sense of shame and guilt. It’s gone too far and has to stop.
Trouble is there are way, way too many who want to make a buck first.
Instead of making what’s right and letting the bucks follow.
I’m guilty. Most of us are.
Wall Street? Bear Stearns, anybody?
BILLIONS have been made because all people think is that they can just “invest” it.
That’s not investing. That’s inflation. Why do you think those characters down on the Street keep begging for rate cuts? Cause they ar playing a numbers game where as long as the numbers keep getting bigger and bigger, whether or not they actually produce anything, they profit.
And I understand Freepers conservative bent. Hell, I’m here because I consider myself conservative.
A big, no a VERY BIG part of being conservative is putting your nose to the grindstone and finding better ways.
I think Americans are up to it.
I hope.