US innovates, but the gains go overseas

[n2doc]

U.S. hard-pressed to stem domestic R&D losses
The nation's ability to turn ideas into products and profits at home has been eroded by deep manufacturing cuts and policies that result in others reaping the benefits.

By Don Lee, Los Angeles Times
September 13, 2010



Reporting from Washington —
President Obama's proposal to boost the research tax credit for businesses is widely seen as necessary to bolster American competitiveness in the global economy.

But even if the $100-billion plan is approved, it won't begin to address the fundamental question of how to turn that research and new technology into jobs and renewed prosperity for Americans.


Over the last two decades, U.S. scientists and engineers have discovered or pioneered the science behind one blockbuster product after another — from flat-panel screens and robotics to the lithium batteries that run next-generation power tools and electric cars.

Yet in almost every case, production, jobs and most of the economic benefits that sprang from those breakthroughs have ended up overseas.

more

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-economy-rd-20100913,0,7883731.story

Boy, never could have seen that one coming! :sarcasm:

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[The Northerner]

2. K&R

[dkf]

3. Yet we buy the products and are the End users.

Let's face it...the American consumer loves buying things cheap.

If we don't show we are willing to pony up for American labor what is the incentive?

[n2doc]

4. Once upon a time the government recognized the value of domestic production

And had tariffs to protect US industry and jobs. Other countries still do, and we still do on a few selected areas.

China subsidizes it's advantage with artificially low exchange rates, no environmental enforcement. And we are supposed to just accept this?

[dkf]

6. Who is the brave American politician who will increase taxes on all the goods we buy?

For all we know it will be the poor rioting on the streets after they can't afford anything anymore.

[Romulox]

5. We're not supposed to care where the product is made, but we pine for the engineers, huh?

"Yet in almost every case, production, jobs and most of the economic benefits that sprang from those breakthroughs have ended up overseas."

I don't see why I, as either a consumer or a worker, should care where the R&D is done. Just like the average engineer couldn't care less where their car or tv is made. Outsourcing hasn't "gone too far!" just because it's now affecting white collar workers.

[kentuck]

7. This is a big problem...

Just on MSNBC, they had on the Senator from Michigan and he mentioned that the new lithium ion batteries, the best in the world technology, would be sent to China and Korea...

[HughMoran]

8. We were complaining about this in the 1980's

Stop shipping the technology overseas! Traitor companies should have their boards hung for treason. When are people going to wake up and exact revenge on those committing espionage in the board rooms of America?