as US manufacturing faded away (from a peak of about 20 million jobs in the late 70's to about 12 million jobs today), the economic "good news" story promoted b

as US manufacturing faded away (from a peak of about 20 million jobs in the late 70's to about 12 million jobs today), the economic "good news" story promoted by the thought leaders was the that America's "true" strength was creativity and innovation. and US research universities are the best in the world. Americans wouldn't need to make their money by building stuff. instead, they'd make their money by inventing and designing stuff and owning the IP. this IP ownership was supposed to guarantee America's prosperity into the future. so, this silly nationalistic idea was more or less the official economic plan for American prosperity, starting in the late 1980's, i guess.