[Teacher317]

I'm talking about the pure, simple, social fun of a real economy -- teams of people dreaming up ways to do things that have never been done before.

That elusive mistress Innovation does seem to have taken a longer vacation than usual... but then again, a war, numerous terrorsist attacks (including those that hit home), a significant number of former allies turning their backs, and the ever-higher plateau of entertainment-value that it takes to grab our excitable parts... all these factors would tend to scare her away for a while.

Or then again, maybe the truly inventive minds in America are Shrugging.

Or then again, maybe we don't educate young minds for that anymore, and shouldn't be surprised when we have fewer innovative minds left.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

A factor that some might consider is the number of people (former achievers) who've had their businesses or careers legislated out of existence for the second or third time.

It will take some time before they commit to something new, if they can think of something new.

[RipSawyer]

"Or then again, maybe we don't educate young minds for that anymore, and shouldn't be surprised when we have fewer innovative minds left."

I have a certain amount of contact with young people in their early twenties and I have begun to wonder what ever happened to youthful exuberance. I see little or no evidence that it exists in the new millenium.