Maggie's Farm

When the Industrial Revolution took root the economy changed as the roots grew into every corner of business.

The universal usage of the computer and the Internet are taken by two generations now as "just the way business is done"; however I would posit that we are still at the beginning of business changes that will continue adapting to this "new age".

The much maligned derivatives (which I believe need some constraints) have become hedges on steroids only by virtue of the computer and it's availability to the MOTU, (see Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities who continuously seek a better way. That is but one example.

There always has been and will always be displacement of those whose abilities self select them out of existence because they cannot adapt. We are seeing that in play worldwide where the game is now played. This nation is self selecting itself out of the game by it's failure to entice, educate, and graduate enough math and science people to continue to be competitive.

Incentives to students who show promise in the sciences should be rapidly escalated, unless we choose to lose. It is our call to pay a semi literate ball player hundreds of millions of dollars and offer crumbs to those who are the real force in changing lives. Competition worldwide is narrowing the window for do-overs so we must get this right or we will end up a second tier country.

Great point , whatever it is.