In his most recent column, Thomas L. Friedman argues that innovation and entrepreneurship need to be reinvigorated in America.
He states: “Without inventing more new products and services that make people more productive, healthier or entertained—that we can sell around the world—we’ll never be able to afford the health care our people need, let alone pay off our debts.”
Friedman suggests that Barack Obama help create new jobs by marshalling a million new start-up companies.
He also praises two student programs Obama has already endorsed: National Lab Day, which inspires innovation, and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which inspires entrepreneurship.
Great article and great website. As a country, the U.S. better wake up or the next generation will be in the second tier of nations. This process starts with less government, lower spending, lower taxes and more attention to serious matters. It also means less attention to music, movie stars, computer games, Facebook, sports (watching) and other stupid pursuits. More attention to math, serious reading, critical thinking, playing sports, excercise, healthy eating, chess, bridge, and other serious pursuits.
Chances that this will happen? ZERO.
Of course, making it impossible to compete with anyone on established businesses, with obscene taxes and international trade restrictions (against our favor), isn’t doing us any favors. Don’t you think it’s a little dangerous to put ourselves in a position to need to operate on the bleeding edge of whatever other countries haven’t figured out how to do yet? Because the moment they catch up, they can do it far better than any business that has the misfortune of calling our nation home?
That said, it would always be nice to see more startup companies succeed. Reading about the 1890-1920s is fascinating. Within the span of maybe 30 years, the modern world appeared.