You are absolutely incorrect. Less then half the country is composed of whiners and hand wringers, the rest of the country is as courageous and innovative as ever. The reason no other country has been able to compete completely with us is that the type of creativity that is requied for true innovation required a freedom of spirit and faith in the individual that currently only exists in this country.
As our president said, that kind of freedom is God's gift to humanity, but so far only we have dared to reach out and grab onto it. That may not always be the case, but here it is second nature.
I was 17 when Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon, and I ditched work (as a dishwasher) long enough to race home and witness it. I remember gazing at the moon in awe that week in July, imagining the adventures to come.
Almost 35 years have passed, and the "adventures" have amounted to a couple robots on Mars, a few camera-equipped satellites zipping through the solar system toward eternity, and the Space Shuttle.
I'm not discounting the accomplishments of the space shuttle program, but I had little doubt in my mind back in 1969 that Star Trek, or something like it, would become a reality in my lifetime.
I guess I'll just have to get over it.