Mr. Ettefagh, I'm left with several thoughts and feelings from your column.

For what it's worth, let me preface by divulging that my perspective comes in garb styled from modern (b. 1978), sociologist university studies (Univ. of Arizona), with a 'made in the USA' tag (altruistic pride).

The global characteristics that inherently form a constantly changing arrangement of dominoes leave no one uninvited. The apt cliche of a butterfly in Australia causing a hurricane in the Atlantic reflect the same basic idea. Yet, I fail to see, or feel, a true recognition here in America that the weight (or much of it) of the world lies on our shoulders. We represent little more than 4% of the global population and have an enormous degree of power, as I could easily show with economic data til we're long in the tooth (and other sources of power; military data, diplomatic sway, technology, etc.).

Time to be responsible. Whatever economic hodgepodge of moves are made, I believe they need to include our lost national and societal ideal of modest responsibility. The incredible amount of greed that caused a global economic disaster forces a good, long look in the mirror (not to admire recent botox injections).

A trip to a simple website like the UN to compare simple, clear differences of data like per capita income, GDP, life expectancy, and literacy rate serves us well. Let's be a good, humble, and benevolent global citizen. Our fathers and grandfathers were in Normandy.

*Great column Mr. Ettefagh. Do you offer any volunteer, unpaid intern positions either personally or with HGC? Tks!s

ANOFECH above is right. But there is also the democratisation of science around the world as basic research and development is no longer a monopoly of USA and Western Europe, and collaboration of basic work around the world. Iran, for example, has a very advance bio-sciences and stemcell research program. India and Brazil have very advanced pharmaceuticals sector.

As realities of life in USA are uncertain, it will not be the prime destination for many scientists and brains that were always imported into USA to assist in furtherance and commercialisation of new ideas.

If the United States are to keep higher living standards than the rest of the world, there must be higher productivity on the average than in other countries.

The only way to achieve this is technological leadership, and the only way to achieve technological leadership is to better than others in science and technology. What it requires is considerable improvement in science and technology education in American schools and colleges.