The present is significantly different because of the volatility introduced by cheap global communications. American wages and sounds are being strongly and rapidly adversely affected by the global market, and US workers have not had time to adjust.
The issue is not the individual US worker; rather, it is the negative effect of such policy on maintaining America's technological lead.
Why should anyone to technical degree, given the situation discussed here? Long-term, that's a problem.
The issue is not the individual US worker; rather, it is the negative effect of such policy on maintaining America's technological lead. Why should anyone to technical degree, given the situation discussed here? Long-term, that's a problem
We need a different focus to our Science and Engineering education, and more innovative thinking. We need fewer courses in Women's Sudies, Minority Culture, and Art History. People feel pressured to get a degree, any degree in anything, whether it will create new industries and businesses or not. From what I have seen (14 nieces and nephews) even mediocre colleges know how to turn out lab drudges, but independent, innovative thought seems to be a lost art. For proof, look at any current NASA Tech Briefs, then look at a few from 15 years ago. Current "research" shows a trend towards being uninspired and derivative, e.g."This was always made with calcium, but we used a magnesium compound" and other intuitively obvious efforts.
There is too much buzzword jingoism: "Nanophase", Hydrogen energy", "MEMS", with many unworkable and some outright stupid publications that would not have survived a peer review 15 years ago.
If the situation is not addressed (And at present there is no motivation for the education industry to do so), expect further declines.
Excuse this rant from an old R&D whore..haha.