Jackal wrote:ladislav wrote:All they need to know is being taught by the lion.
I'll dispense with the animal metaphors this time.
America's strength basically comes from its military and its businesses. America's big weak point is in math and science education. There aren't enough Americans getting Ph.D.s in math, science, and engineering, so we have to hire many scientists from abroad. This can lead to security risks. Like the Chinese scientists who were hired to work in government labs in America and who turned out to be spies. Since 911, the tighter controls on student visas and other frustrations international students face here have meant that most of them go back to their home countries once they get their degrees from the US, so only their home countries benefit from their knowledge. Furthermore, Bush's restrictions on stem cell research has meant that many researchers have gone abroad to do cutting edge medical research.
Why not promote math and science the way they have been promoting the Military?
Also, more and more foreign companies are buying American companies. We owe a huge portion of our national debt to the Chinese. Americans are slowly coming under the control of foreign masters all the time. Will they still believe that their country is the greatest when foreigners own most of it?
Well, the reason it is a bit harder to notice or oppose foreign involvement in America is that it is such a land of immigrants and such a a melting pot. Brits have been investing for centuries and no one has been complaining. Because another John Smith has been hardly noticeable in the US. Once he became a citizen, he was an American like anyone else. At least, on paper. Also, foreign corporations have to come under state and federal regulations if in the US. They cannot run businesses as they would in China or anywhere else. And once these rich people stay in the country a certain time and decide to become citizens, one cannot say that it is foreigners that own the US. But again, they may not choose to become citizens...
It is another story if they control America from afar. This will influence US foreign policy in a big way- such as not recognizing Taiwan or Tibet. Things like that. But again one needs not discount that while the Chinese invest in America, Americans also invest in China. So, it goes both ways. Maybe it is not that America will fall under the jackboot of a foreign master, but rather, we will all become intertwined and national identities will not mean that much.
As far as those 'patriots' are concerned, well, they may still say- Hey, this is the greatest country in the world because
everyone wants to invest in here.
