4 ms·

The major thing you've left out, is for the past 100 years we've also had many of the best minds in the world. Not that Americans are smarter than anyone else,

by cactus2093 6y ago

The major thing you've left out, is for the past 100 years we've also had many of the best minds in the world. Not that Americans are smarter than anyone else, but many of the brightest and most entrepreneurial people from around the world have moved to America and done amazing things here. To me, our recent limitations on immigration are the biggest canary in the coal mine as far as how America's future may end up being less optimistic than one would expect by extrapolating from the 20th century.

JohnBooty 6y ago
Yes. It's funny; when people say "American ingenuity", I'm not sure what reality they're living in because it often seems like they're claiming we are somehow... inherently brilliant. Do they think we're genetically superior? Or do they think it's the water we drink? It's really a head-scratcher. As you said: the real answer is of course that we attract talent.
crisdux 6y ago
What are the limits on immigration you are talking about? As far as my research shows, the paths for highly educated immigrants through h1b visa, f1 visa, opt training programs and green cards is largely unchanged and have been constant or increased in recent years. The United States is still the top destination for immigrants throughout the world. The United States still accepts over 1 million new permanent residents a year. Anything done by executive action by the current administration will be undone. If you are talking about the recent halts due to the pandemic, I'm assuming those will all be temporary. I will gladly read your reply if you have a different perspective on this.
- cactus2093 6y ago
  Yes I'm talking mostly about things done by executive action by the current administration, and during the pandemic. They may be temporary, that's why I commented that we still have some time to improve this situation before it starts compounding and becoming a lasting part of the country. I don't think anyone can say for sure that it will all be temporary, at the very least Trump could remain president another 4 years, and republicans could remain in office even beyond that in which case I don't see them repealing anything Trump has done.

JohnBooty 6y ago

Yes. It's funny; when people say "American ingenuity", I'm not sure what reality they're living in because it often seems like they're claiming we are somehow... inherently brilliant. Do they think we're genetically superior? Or do they think it's the water we drink? It's really a head-scratcher. As you said: the real answer is of course that we attract talent.

crisdux 6y ago

What are the limits on immigration you are talking about? As far as my research shows, the paths for highly educated immigrants through h1b visa, f1 visa, opt training programs and green cards is largely unchanged and have been constant or increased in recent years. The United States is still the top destination for immigrants throughout the world. The United States still accepts over 1 million new permanent residents a year. Anything done by executive action by the current administration will be undone. If you are talking about the recent halts due to the pandemic, I'm assuming those will all be temporary. I will gladly read your reply if you have a different perspective on this.

cactus2093 6y ago
Yes I'm talking mostly about things done by executive action by the current administration, and during the pandemic. They may be temporary, that's why I commented that we still have some time to improve this situation before it starts compounding and becoming a lasting part of the country. I don't think anyone can say for sure that it will all be temporary, at the very least Trump could remain president another 4 years, and republicans could remain in office even beyond that in which case I don't see them repealing anything Trump has done.