The innovation and hard work I was talking about includes such things as defining new biological therapies, new paradigms for information technology, innovative energy technology, new products based on advanced materials science etc. Every economic boom we've had in this country has been associated with some kind of innovation and advancement.
The issue of huge corporations controlling the economy is a valid one, but this is exactly where government is supposed to play a role, in making sure that everyone plays by the rules and that the proper rules exist to prevent monopolies and suppression of competition. This is quite different than controlling outcomes, which is what social engineering types of politicians have been trying to do.
Biotech and pharmaceuticals is an example of how our government policies are actually undermining our ability to lead the world and profit from it. We have been the major source of the major advancements in medical technology and biomedicine in the world over the past many decades. We have produced major advances in molecular biology that is the intellectual underpinning of new biological therapies. However, instead of realizing that medicine, biotechnology, medical device development, medical imaging, and pharmaceuticals are a major success area in the American economy, and allowing that sector to grow, our government is suppressing this sector of the economy, and refusing to protect our patents abroad.
In the meantime, the Chinese are sending students and early career researches to the US to learn and take back the expertise of this sector, as they recognize it as an important and growing area. We, on the other hand, are bailing out GM.
“instead of realizing that medicine, biotechnology, medical device development, medical imaging, and pharmaceuticals are a major success area in the American economy, and allowing that sector to grow, our government is suppressing this sector of the economy, and refusing to protect our patents abroad.”
I think you are right and in most ways I agree with you. I would take it even further. The National Institutes of Health have become a controller of what we do in research instead of an enabler. They are focusing research on what they think is important. I think that Pasteur, “Chance favors only the prepared mind,” would probably not be successful in the modern grant system. He was willing to look at things with a fresh mind. Today’s system favors the old boy system just like the rest of the political system. If I had my druthers I would keep the money in the States where you could fund many more bright and innovative ideas that don’t always follow the academic orthodoxy. Remember they (NIH) drain much of the money away on internal research.
The use of foreign grad. students comes from two primary directions. Foreign grad. students work cheaper, and in some cases come with funding from their own governments. A liberal PC mindset of prejudice against Americans, and the belief that we have an obligation to the rest of the world. I am speaking strictly about the medical university environment as I haven’t been involved with the typical university in a long time. PC trumps survival of this country every time IMHO.
I’m involved with a 16M study that could have done much cheaper and faster and better if the Feds weren’t involved. You do what you must to pay the bills. Administrators aren’t cheap these days.
I think the bottom line is that, which I think you implied, government is supposed to stay off the playing field except as a Referee.