The Crumbling Foundations of American Strength: Knowledge Is Power--and the United States Is Losing It.

This article explores the changing dynamics of power in the world, emphasizing the shift from tangible resources to intangible knowledge and technology as sources of power. It highlights the importance of education and innovation in driving a country's power and competitiveness. The article raises concerns about the declining state of education and research universities in the United States, as well as the country's reliance on foreign talent. It argues that the US government needs to prioritize strengthening its educational and research capacity to maintain its power and security in the future. The article also discusses China's increasing investment in research, which is outpacing the growth rate of the United States. If this trend continues, China's spending on basic research will surpass that of the US within a decade. However, the private sector's focus on short-term innovation is diverting talent and attention away from basic research, potentially leading to a talent crisis in the future. The article suggests several measures for US policymakers to address these challenges, including developing intelligence capabilities to assess emerging technologies, investing in national infrastructure for technological innovation, reforming the immigration system and defense budgeting, and increasing funding for basic research. It also emphasizes the importance of improving K-12 education for the country's future prosperity and global leadership. [Extracted from the article]