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Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

nytimes.com

81–88 of 88 posts

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#81
post #77
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love that quote because his son went on to study politics and war anyways: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

Not to pick on you because 90% of the time people say anyways. Anyway, my point is don't say anyways. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/anyway-or-anyways.aspx

Despite the down votes from others, I appreciate the correction. I didn't know that it's anyway, not anyways. I appreciate the help. Thanks.

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#82
post #77
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love that quote because his son went on to study politics and war anyways: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

Not to pick on you because 90% of the time people say anyways. Anyway, my point is don't say anyways. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/anyway-or-anyways.aspx

Downvoted, of course. I hope for my trouble a few more people get it.

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#83
post #81
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to pick on you because 90% of the time people say anyways. Anyway, my point is don't say anyways. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/anyway-or-anyways.aspx

Despite the down votes from others, I appreciate the correction. I didn't know that it's anyway, not anyways. I appreciate the help. Thanks.

I used to say it too. Roommate in college broke my habit. As a former addict I notice people saying it all the time. :-)

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#84
post #83
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite the down votes from others, I appreciate the correction. I didn't know that it's anyway, not anyways. I appreciate the help. Thanks.

I used to say it too. Roommate in college broke my habit. As a former addict I notice people saying it all the time. :-)

Anyways...

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#86
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It means that the US is producing a lot of valuable stuff, but not much of it is durable consumer products like clothes or electronics. The US is, for instance, the world's number one aircraft producer by a significant margin, and one Boeing 747 is worth a lot of cheap Chinese t-shirts.

I used to work in US manufacturing. We built chips. The way it worked is that major fab operations, especially the ones that benefited from the close proximity of Ph.D.-educated senior engineers, were done in the USA. Then the parts would be shipped in wafer form to be diced and packaged in Asia because dicing, packaging, wire bonding and inspecting are human-intensive jobs that are hard to fully automate. Hands-on w…

With the exception of Intel and TI, I think that "major fab operations" for most of the US semiconductor industry are now handled by TSMC, UMC and other foundries in Asia.

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#87
post #71
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When it's finally explained how service economy can be sustainable long-term, I suspect many people would have no problem with outsourcing production whatsoever.

You sell investment banking advice, software and self-help books to the Chinese, the Chinese sell you cars and dish washers. What's not self-sustaining about this? (Of course, the USA still produces lots of stuff you can kick. Don't worry.)

How many Americans are fit for working as investment bankers? OK, you would also need a handful of plumbers, hairdressers and real estate agents to accommodate for the needs of Wall st. Is that it?

Also, where the confidence that Chinese would continue to need American investment advice comes from? If they get the majority of capital and trade along with industrial base, wouldn't these jobs simply follow the money? Americans certainly didn't need any external help back in the day.

Re: Brooks: America’s brightest minds have been abandoning technical enterprise

#88
post #87
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You sell investment banking advice, software and self-help books to the Chinese, the Chinese sell you cars and dish washers. What's not self-sustaining about this? (Of course, the USA still produces lots of stuff you can kick. Don't worry.)

How many Americans are fit for working as investment bankers? OK, you would also need a handful of plumbers, hairdressers and real estate agents to accommodate for the needs of Wall st. Is that it? Also, where the confidence that Chinese would continue to need American investment advice comes from? If they get the majority of capital and trade along with industrial base, wouldn't these jobs simply follow the money? A…

Investment banking was just a silly example.

America did use lots of foreign help back in the day. The British helped finance the railways. But America did not rely on foreign finance forever. After the First World War there were the greatest creditor nation.

The rise of America has not dented the European standard of living. And neither should the rise of China curb the American living standards. Relative decline is not absolute decline.

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