How can the U.S. maintain a technological edge?

[Rolex]

Originally posted by Mini D
I think the main difference is the opportunity that someone without a degree has in the U.S. vs alot of other countries.

I'm curious, MiniD. What countries would you site as examples of this main difference?

[Eagler]

we have a 60% public high school graduation rate around here

I think we should start with the failing 40%

[Mini D]

Originally posted by Rolex
I'm curious, MiniD. What countries would you site as examples of this main difference?

Salary, by a long shot.

There are a few countries that beat us out, but only a few. The average salary difference between educated/uneducated in the U.S. is not significant either. Contractors help that out significantly as well as trucking/trade/transportation. There's a reason many foreigners that get masters and PhDs in the U.S. stay here and work. If they went home, they'd be earning significantly less, even on a salary/cost of living scale.

[soda72]

Originally posted by Mini D
There's a reason many foreigners that get masters and PhDs in the U.S. stay here and work. If they went home, they'd be earning significantly less, even on a salary/cost of living scale.

India is a good example,

I work for a software company that allows people from India to key remittance work.  This is a job that most high school drop outs end up doing here in the states.  But in India they have keyers doing this with PHd's.  If I spent all that effort and time getting a PHd and ended up with a job keying check amounts I would be pissed, and on the first boat going to the USA...  

[lazs2]

I don't think that many of our public school graduates could take any real technical graduate courses... once they leave public 12th grade classes they pretty much have to start over.

I don't think making public school extend another 2-8 years would do much except make kids fatter and cost us billions.

lazs

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
Fully 1/3rd of graduate students in the U.S. are foreign.

So what are we to do?

"Fully 1/3rd"?

So we to presume that 2/3 Americans being graduate students is a BAD THING?   Wake up from your slumber Rip Van Winkle.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by FUNKED1
nothing will happen unless our society starts to value education

I couldn't agree more. One thing I would like to see is a full time school day. We live in a society where both parents work full time, it's kind of silly for kids to be out of school at two in the afternoon. If we can have the best military in the world, there is no reason not to have the best education system in the world.

Here, Boston metro area used to have one of the best public school systems in the world, it's a shadow of itself now and it's a shame

[lazs2]

I value education...  I don't think many teachers do tho.  I think most teachers... and the teachers union in general.... think that what they want is all that matters.

We are paying more every year for schools and getting less.  

The way to value education is to have standards that are strict and high.   Flunk kids who can't or won't learn and fire teachers who won't or can't teach.

What we would have left would be enough.  

It is the only way to "value" education.... throwing money at it and making sure that every student passes by lowering the standards does not "value" it.   Shortening the school day does not "value" it.   Allowing the teaching of social skills does not "value" it.  

None of the countries that are so admired by you all here would put up with either our students or our teachers of today...

that is the simple truth.  

Both the way that we treat teachers and students needs to be overhauled if either is to have any "value" or respect.

lazs

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
How can the U.S. maintain its technological edge over the rest of the World?

By bringing the U.S. back to the U.S. By this I mean cut our dependency on foreign countries for everything from soap to microchips.
Hands on.
Another good starting point would be to put teachers in place in public schools who actualy wish to teach something useful instead of using it as a platform for their personal agenda.

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by Jackal1
Another good starting point would be to put teachers in place in public schools who actualy wish to teach something useful instead of using it as a platform for their personal agenda.

Can you convert this general statement into something specific?  This is a good place to use a SMART objective.

Specific - What exactly is the goal?
measurable - How will success be determined?  For example, "I will read this book by tuesday" is measurable because there is a deadline.
attainable - Is the requirement possible?  How about feasible?  What kind of money will it cost to implement?
results focused - Does the goal focus on getting something done, or is it focused on complaining about something that exists?
timely - What is the prospective timeline?

The SMART objective structure is something I use all the time in my personal and professional life, it seems like as good a time as any to apply it to here as well, and your generalized statement in particular.

[Krusher]

If you have the time check out this article.
Why Startups

Paul Graham has the credentials that make his essay worthy (see his bio). I agree with most of his points. Some of them are political in nature but they all have merits.

Tax rates are probably (imo) the biggest factor to start up success. Back in the early 90's I ran my own tech/export company. Part of my plan was to keep margins thin for the first 5 years to build a client base. Our state changed governors and they added a corporate franchise tax. There was very little incentive for me to increase my cost to cover the extra tax so I sold out and moved on.



The top 10

1.) It allows immigration
2.) It is rich
3.) It is not a police state
4.) Its universities are better
5.) It has less restrictive labor laws
6.) Work is not strictly identified with having a job
7.) It has fewer regulations
8.) It has a large domestic market
9.) It has venture capital funding
10.) Americans change careers more often



If you're interested in startups, he has other articles on his site you might like.

[Dowding]

By bringing the U.S. back to the U.S. By this I mean cut our dependency on foreign countries for everything from soap to microchips.
Hands on.

And I'm sure the average consumer will buy into a huge hike in prices for all manner of goods.

Globalisation is a fact. It's the 21st century, not the 1930s. It sounds like some have yet to adjust to that fact...

The best companies exploit Porter's diamond and operate in tough competitive environments. Think of it as building corporate muscle.

[AquaShrimp]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
"Fully 1/3rd"?

So we to presume that 2/3 Americans being graduate students is a BAD THING?   Wake up from your slumber Rip Van Winkle.

Yeah thats a bad thing.  Americans should make up 90-95% of graduate students.  But don't let this post distract you, I'm sure you need to get back to your lucrative job in the food service industry.

[Jackal1]

4- Members should post in a way that is respectful of other users and HTC. Flaming or abusing users is not tolerated.

[AquaShrimp]

One more thing.  I think in the past, the U.S. has had an advantage in manufacturing because it used technology over manpower.  Textiles for example.  In the U.S., 5 women with new singer sewing machines were doing the same job that 100 chinese women hand sewing were doing.  We've lost that manufacturing technological edge.

And cars.  We don't have the manufacturing edge to produce cars cheaper than our competition, plus our designs are either inferior or on par with foreign cars, not better.