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Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

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Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#21

Post by joewee »

jonpaul wrote: post #9

I've read this, but I don't know if it's true other than my own anecdotal experiences. But the reason that so much innovation comes from America because the it's so damn easy to start a business and take risks while having protection from the law. I can (and have) started businesses in under an hour with full legal protection of the law. That is, my personal assets are separated from my business assets. This includes…

This sounds true if you look at Japan and most of Europe, where it seems entrepreneurs have to pay for their failed business debts for the rest of their lives.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#22

Post by rwhitman »

chops wrote: post #12

I have a friend who emigrated to US from China when he was in his 50s, and that was about 15 years ago. He's an entrepreneur who sells machine tools via paper catalog and his website. It's truly fascinating to meet with him every few months and just talk business, family, life, all that stuff. He has this hypothesis that one of the primary reason for American innovative dominance is due to the ubiquity of basements i…

There are almost no basements in California (a basement's purpose is to protect the foundation from shifting during the winter freeze-thaw cycle). Considering how much innovation comes out of CA I'd say that theory is debunked.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#23

Post by Apocryphon »

crusso wrote: post #2

That's a pretty lame thesis. By that logic we should see the most innovation coming out of the worst places on earth. How's that innovation coming out of the Sudan going? Lots of things that suck there that could be fixed. What, Greece doesn't have a load of problems that should drive innovation? America has a culture of individualism, problem solving, and allowing those who solve problems to keep the spoils of their…

Haven't you seen all of the news stories about Indian firms trying to make cheaper smartphones, tablets, and low-gas smartcars?

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#24

Post by [deleted] »

crusso wrote: post #2

That's a pretty lame thesis. By that logic we should see the most innovation coming out of the worst places on earth. How's that innovation coming out of the Sudan going? Lots of things that suck there that could be fixed. What, Greece doesn't have a load of problems that should drive innovation? America has a culture of individualism, problem solving, and allowing those who solve problems to keep the spoils of their…

[deleted]

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#25

Post by swalsh »

rwhitman wrote: post #22
chops wrote: post #12

I have a friend who emigrated to US from China when he was in his 50s, and that was about 15 years ago. He's an entrepreneur who sells machine tools via paper catalog and his website. It's truly fascinating to meet with him every few months and just talk business, family, life, all that stuff. He has this hypothesis that one of the primary reason for American innovative dominance is due to the ubiquity of basements i…

There are almost no basements in California (a basement's purpose is to protect the foundation from shifting during the winter freeze-thaw cycle). Considering how much innovation comes out of CA I'd say that theory is debunked.

California has a lot of garages though. Its a similar sentiment.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#26

Post by w1ntermute »

rwhitman wrote: post #22
chops wrote: post #12

I have a friend who emigrated to US from China when he was in his 50s, and that was about 15 years ago. He's an entrepreneur who sells machine tools via paper catalog and his website. It's truly fascinating to meet with him every few months and just talk business, family, life, all that stuff. He has this hypothesis that one of the primary reason for American innovative dominance is due to the ubiquity of basements i…

There are almost no basements in California (a basement's purpose is to protect the foundation from shifting during the winter freeze-thaw cycle). Considering how much innovation comes out of CA I'd say that theory is debunked.

In California you can replace "basement" with "garage".

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#27

Post by intellegacy »

rwhitman wrote: post #22
chops wrote: post #12

I have a friend who emigrated to US from China when he was in his 50s, and that was about 15 years ago. He's an entrepreneur who sells machine tools via paper catalog and his website. It's truly fascinating to meet with him every few months and just talk business, family, life, all that stuff. He has this hypothesis that one of the primary reason for American innovative dominance is due to the ubiquity of basements i…

There are almost no basements in California (a basement's purpose is to protect the foundation from shifting during the winter freeze-thaw cycle). Considering how much innovation comes out of CA I'd say that theory is debunked.

What about garages? Functional equivalent of basements when it comes to marginal space. In colder areas people wouldn't imagine tinkering around in garages as it's way too cold.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#28

Post by AndrewKemendo »

rwhitman wrote: post #22
chops wrote: post #12

I have a friend who emigrated to US from China when he was in his 50s, and that was about 15 years ago. He's an entrepreneur who sells machine tools via paper catalog and his website. It's truly fascinating to meet with him every few months and just talk business, family, life, all that stuff. He has this hypothesis that one of the primary reason for American innovative dominance is due to the ubiquity of basements i…

There are almost no basements in California (a basement's purpose is to protect the foundation from shifting during the winter freeze-thaw cycle). Considering how much innovation comes out of CA I'd say that theory is debunked.

California and the entire southwest however, have garages; which serve the same purpose with respect to the entrepreneur assertion. So I wouldn't go debunking anything so quickly.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#29

Post by joewee »

wickedbass wrote: post #17

You've got to be kidding right? Your entire argument is based on the rail system? Which is still one of the most extensive in the world? The US has less of a need for a national passenger rail service. The low faire airlines filled that gap long ago (southwest?)... I don't buy it.

It should be extensive, United States of America is the 3rd largest country by land mass in the world. Larger than China.

Airline deregulation didn't occur in the USA until the late 70's. Until then most American's still preferred to travel by car. Not rail.

So I do agree that American's had less of a need for a national rail because the country had a well developed interstate highway system for all those cheap gas guzzling cars. Great until gas became expensive. Oops.

I would argue southwest could only succeed because of a failed rail system. But I have no data to support that theory.

Re: Why does so much innovation come from America? Because it sucks.

#30

Post by andrewkkirk »

"Correlation does not imply causation"

Yes, need problems in order to have innovative problems. With this theory, third world nations with the worst infrastructure would be booming with innovation.

There is so much more required than problems. America drives innovation because of many factors, including standard of living, capitalistic markets, freedom of choice, and access to educational opportunities.

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