Wow… this racist anti-american thread is back!?
I thought the motto here was bring data, let’s see
Nobel Prizes as of 2006
USA:160
Japan: 12 (nope, didn’t forget a zero)
China: 5
FWIW: Poland nudges out Japan with 14, and Ireland follows closely with 10 (just pointing that out since I am a 1st generation McPollack myself–wonder if I get any “hybrid vigor”).
What data is out there to refute American’s dominance in innovation? Maybe more recent inventions? Like the transistor, computer, internet, world wide web (BTW:not the same thing), Google–but those are American too…
An admittedly anecdotal story:my uncle, who was but a babe when he got to these shores is now a self-made multi-millionaire. Not bad for a lazy, good for nothing Mick. Good thing all these Asians weren’t around back then to muck things up for him ;^)
The logic (or rather lack)here seems to be: People from another country to US universities because Americans are less intelligent…right. Makes no sense. People come to our universities because they know ours are among the best in the world. On balance that great sucking sound one hears is a brain drain from the rest of the world to the US. The reason Americans don’t flock to higher education (post graduate) is that it is hard and often does not payoff financially, at least not much more than a BA or BS (maybe a Masters), especially for smart, motivated native speakers.
The reason Asians and other immigrants do so well upon coming here is simple. Anyone with the energy, courage and ability to up and leave their homeland, and support system (family), as well as learn a new language and culture has already shown themselves to be better. Better than the average American and better than their average countrymen. The average immigrant is not your average person. These days the average American goes to college. Not so in most countries. So, it should not be surprizing that the average foreign college student is better then the average American.
But maybe it is the genes?
Two thousand years ago the Chinese became astronomers, pondering the universe. These days most are dirt farmers or factory workers. I guess their genes went bad. Two thousand years ago the Arabs had sewers, while the Euros were throwing crap out their windows. Now Arabs (not in direct power) scratch out livings while the Euros sip lattes wondering how to integrate the 20% of the population with no formal education–mostly Arab. Guess their genes got dated too.
Or maybe it has something to do with opportunity… no, that would put the burden back on us to do well. After all, you are probably average–by definition 8^P. Well, back to Pro-Wrestling, my TiVo is full of Paris Hilton interviews, so I can’t record it.
