Here's this week's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/opinion/03friedman.html
Please answer these questions:
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
Some students requested an article on Haiti and I found this interesting one from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jan/29/religion-haiti
1. Who is responsible for Haiti's current dire situation?
2. Whose responsibility is it to improve the situation? Do you agree?
3. The article does not suggest exactly what we should do to improve the situation. Do you have any suggestions?
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I think Friedman is not very optimistic concerning America's economy future.He agrees with Paul Otellini(the chief executive of Intel, the microship maker and one of America's crown jewel companies) that although America has the necessary quality work force, the political stability and the natural resources that companies may need it may still fall in the abyss.Friedman's pesimism is related to the fact it is very expensive to invest in America because companies have to pay a lot of taxes.For this reason they prefer to invest in places like China where neither the taxes nor the the construction costs are as expensive as in America.As a result, America is ranked sixth amony the 40 industrialized nations in innovative competitiveness but last out of the same 40 nations when it comes to I.T. infrastructure and economic performance.This therefore means that there needs to be a change in America's taxes in order to make its economy become modern and competitive.
ReplyDeleteTo make America stronger the government should lower corporate taxes so that companies(like Intel) will want to go and invest in America instead of choosing other countries like South Korea where they can even compete with superior technology .There will also be less unemployment because the companies will get local market accesss. I think competitiveness and education are related because it will be easier for students who have finished their studies to get a job,and knowing that they'll will be encouraged to strive harder and even do longer studies.But, I also think that a strong country is a country where people pay taxes: the problem is to find the right amount for everybody, it must depend on the amount of money you earn per year.
I was shocked when I read that America's is ranked last of the 40 industrialized nations in I.T.infrastructure and ecnomic performance.I think America has the ability to be better ranked than that and that there should be a change in its economic strategies.America plays a big part in globalization but Americans "spend, borrow and patch" a lot.The wars in Irak and Afghanistan have worsened the situation and America still owes China a lot of money. In other words America is not as influential in economy as it is in culture and media.
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
ReplyDelete-Friedman compares America with Los Angeles International Airport; once thought to be modern, but not just can't seem to hide the wrinkles anymore. This clearly shows that he is not very optimistic about America's future. He says that America is becoming deprived in the worst way that it is slowly falling, just enough to bring serious issues in the future, but unnoticeably. Friedman continues his article with what Otellini (Chief executive of Intel) talked about in Washington. Otellini says that the reason they built a factory in China, not in United States was because it was a lot cheaper. On top of that, now days, the company could “not only survive but thrive” even without American workers because America is weakening in education system compared to other countries as well. Otellini also mention that study in 2009 shows America ranked 6 out of 40 industrialized nations, which isn’t bad. However, it ranked 40 out of 40 in rate of development. Not only that, but also the government is stifling America’s development by raising 5 % in development tax and lowering the corporate taxes, which will in future bring down the country’s economy.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
- Otellini says “I’d like to see competitiveness and education takes a higher role than they are today.” In response to this, what we, as citizens and students of United States, need to do is to pursue educational career as much as possible to raise up the standard of our education to meet up to other countries’ or even higher. American Government could also lower the developmental tax and higher the corporate tax instead so that our investments in these developments could pay us back later in the future. The government should also change the “spend, borrow, and patch” to “save, invest, and build,” like China.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
- I agree with Friedman and Otellini. Even about few decades ago, America was a dream land where all the poor and people with dream come and make it reality. America had so much potential and I believe it still has now. But the way government is running America with the idea of materialistic matter and siding only with large companies, it’s killing America slowly. It’s time to change.
Friedman is obviously not very optimistic about America's economy in the future. Though America has the quality work force, the political stability and the natural resources that companies may need, China has the cheap labor, less taxes, and less construction costs. As a result, America is ranked sixth among the 40 industrialized nations for innovative competitiveness.
ReplyDeleteSolution to this is to “save, invest, and build,” like China does. America needs to change the way they enforce taxes and make more flexible rules in order to become a better competitor to the other nations around the world.
Lower corporate taxes, advancing in technology, and a quality education would help America capture the investments of companies like Intel, which would lead to more employment, and nevertheless a better economy.
In the world economy today, America lags behind China and other industrialized nations, because we are a nation in two wars Iraq and Afghanistan, we have a large sum of money owed to China, and our education system is not as competitive as others.
Friedman was very pessimistic about the future of America, because it is very expensive to invest into America. In our world economy today, there are other markets where there are quality workers in all fields. Also those other markets have made themselves more appealing by offering tax breaks to corporations so they are more likely to operate out of America. I think that America has become complacent in their place in the world economy, because we still see ourselves on the top of the economic world, and the hard truth is that we aren't, and if we don't step our game the rest of the world is going to leave us behind.
ReplyDeleteFriedman shows a very pessimistic view of America's future. He has such pessimism because he believes that we are lagging behind in math and science and lack any incentives or programs that will encourage innovation and scientific advancement. He says that we should be increasing our math and science education and pushing for more innovation and growth in our market. He argues that incentives like tax breaks will allow businesses to hire more workers here to lead the way for scientific innovation America. He says that if we don't do anything to better math and science education and ultimately give businesses a reason to hire more American workers, we will lag behind the rest of the world. I personally think that he is right about a lot of things. America's economy and markets are falling fast. Have you ever noticed that when people go to anything science or math related, the best people are always immigrants, mostly Asian? That obviously means that many businesses can find good Math and science people outside of the US and that we are not doing enough to push innovation in those fields. Our economy was once at the top of the world. But in this age, its falling fast and something must be done to correct it. One example I can provide is the electronics market. Most of it is dominated by Asian (Korean or Japanese) companies; some like LG, Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung. The fact that American companies are falling while Asian companies are rising is enough evidence that our market. and economy is falling fast. We must push for more Math and science education if we expect to fix this.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion , Thomas Friedman is enough pessimistic about America's future , even if he really hopes changes for the United States .In fact he says : 'I'm a little worried that by the time we wake up to the crisis we will be in the abyss"; What shows his pessimism and also his hopes because he is worried about America's future .
ReplyDeleteI think he is pessimistic about America's future because America has to realize great and many changes in order to become as competitive as the other countries . I think he is also pessimistic because it is true that the studies concerning America's row are not very encouraging , for instance, the U.S ranked dead last out of the same 40 nations concerning I.T infrastructure, economic performance ...
These results show how difficult will be the changes .
He is also pessimistic because of the American's habits, namely spend, borrow and patch . In fact it is not easy to change people's habits , it takes generally many time , months or even years !
Another reason of Thomas Friedman's pessimism is the one of taxes and capital equipment credits which don't conducive to investments .
But on the other hand , we have to keep in mind that Thomas Friedman's little hopes may be justified by the fact that the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ranked the U.S sixth among the top 40 industrialized nations in innovative competitiveness . What, according to Otellini, is not bad .
In order to make America stronger , I think it is necessary to change the American's habits . In fact , they should imitate their "neighbours" , as China, where people , contrary to the U.S , save, invest and build . In my opinion , America should also focus on the incentive programs in order to induce big multinationals to create lots more job in the United States . But the main issue they have to resolve is the one of taxes . In fact firms have to pay taxes too much expensive , what lead them to build in other countries where taxes , labor and costs are lower .
As everybody , ( I think ! )I have been astounded when I saw that the U.S ranked dead last out of the same 40 nations . America's place in the world economy is very amazing because America always seemed to be to everybody a great economic power because of the budget that America devotes to the war . But I tnink the image of a very great power that we have in mind comes from the Second World War , I explain , American soldiers didn't or nearly didn't fight on their territory during the war , so they didn't have to devote a budget very important to the rebuilding because they had less damages than the other countries , for this reason after the war they were the main creditors and they had more money than the other countries . So I think this image untill now didn't very evolve in our mentalities . That is why we are astounded seing America's place in the world economy .
Amie H. - Ms. AuCoin (pd.8)
ReplyDeleteFriedman does not seem so optimistic about America's future. At the present, the United States is still dominating other countries in terms of a strong work force and superior technology. But the U.S. is lacking in terms of what they are doing to invest in the future. There isn't enough being done to ensure that the United States will stay on top. Other countries, specifically China, are wisely equipping future generations with a good education in the math and sciences that prepare them for future opportunities. It is likely that major companies will start to hire their employees from countries other than the U.S. and base their companies globally in other countries. This will leave the U.S. in the dust completely.
I think the best way to solve any problem is to start at the source and pull out the roots. In this case, the problem is that we are not investing wisely enough. There should be more focus in schools on subjects that our students are lacking in: math and science. The government should be starting programs that encourage learning in these areas and incentives that will bring more people to become interested in these fields.
I think that America's time as a super power is in decline. The signs are subtle but clear. With the present economic recession, it is becoming more absolute that the United States is falling behind. China and India are rapidly developing and reaching stages where they surpass the United States. Frankly, we should be worried.
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
ReplyDeleteOptimistic would be the last word that I would use to describe how Friedman feels about America's future. He feels that we are behind the rest of the top nations in being more innovated.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
Agreeing with what Friedman said, we need a stronger education system. The learners of today are the makers of tomorrow. Not much people can teach themselves new topics. We need a strong system that makes students actually want to learn.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
To be honest, I'm quite disappointed. America used to be this great place where people could go to to improve their lives. People would come from all over the world in hopes of earning more money. But now, when I hear the word America all that I can think of is DEBT. I keep hearing and reading stories of how America's debt to China keeps increasing. It's funny because my dad would used to tell me, all the time, that I have to learn Chinese because China was going to be better than the US one day, and I didn't believe him. I thought he was just saying that because he wanted me to learn Chinese. But now that I think about America's financial situation, maybe he was right. It seems like America and China have switched places.
^Alina from Aucoin's Period 8 class
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning of Friedman’s article in The New York Times, he makes it apparent that he is not very optimistic about America’s future. He talks about the Los Angeles International Airport where he realized that the United States isn’t investing in its future but instead the United States is borrowing money to just patch up what it has already created. If we continue to do this then there is no room for improvement. Luckily, there is still room to change the way America is. Countries like China and other developing nations are spitting out students from colleges and universities that are well equipped with much knowledge concerning math and sciences. Unfortunately, many companies will now choose these international students rather than the US students not because they can pay them less but because they are better and more innovative. According to a study by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, even though America is number six of forty when it comes to innovative competiveness, we are number forty when it comes to how inventive we will be in the years to come. Friedman agrees with Otellini because they both believe strongly that not enough is being done to secure our spot as one of the most competitive nations and this will cause a decrease in the productivity of the American economy as well as the people.
ReplyDeleteIn order to make our country stronger in terms of innovativeness, we should implement new curriculums that are focused on what students want to pursue as early as high school. Many students graduate from high school with no plan and no clue about what they want to be in the future. It’s obvious that we need to do something about this to prepare our students as early as possible to make them the best engineers, doctors, lawyers, researchers, etc.
America is not as far back in the economy as many Americans see it. Although we aren’t doing the best we can presently, there is still time to change our course. I believe that once we find our way out of the recession, we will become as strong as we were a few years ago.
Friedman is anything but optimistic about the American future because he thinks that we are heading i the wrong direction. Covering up our faults rather than correcting them.
ReplyDeleteTo make our country stronger, we should address the problems that plague us. We should take on a different view on many things such as education. In my opinion, America plays a crucial role in today's economy and will continue to do so for a while. However, we may not hold on to that position for too long if we continue to slip down the ladder.
Many western powers are responsible for Haiti's situation. It is the world's responsibility to improve upon their situation. This could be achieved by providing support to trade partnerships.
Well according to Friedman, America is steadily declining in not only the industrial world but also economically as a whole. The industries are not backed up by the government having them slowly dwindle in value. Making industries from other nations either more cost effective or more successful than any in America.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I am not adept enough in the understanding of the economy to state what America should or should not do. But according to what Ive learned from several articles I can determine that the government should support the industries with more than bail -outs which are used for un-needed bonus. But by increasing more job opportunities.
Right now America is low in the economy ladder. But with time the economy should become better.
Pd. 1
ReplyDeleteJ.A.
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
I don’t see much optimism is Friedman’s comments about America’s future. As he says in the beginning of his opinion, “Walking through its faded, cramped domestic terminal, I got the feeling of a place that once thought of itself as modern but has had one too many face-lifts and simply can’t hide the wrinkles anymore. In some ways, LAX is us. We are the United States of Deferred Maintenance,” it shows that he thinks of America as weak and worn out. We have too many problems and we are just getting worse anyway, just like how a person keeps getting older. The problems are to such an extreme extent that they can no longer be hidden from the world. He believes that the government is not addressing the problem properly, and although it doesn’t seem as bad for now, it will get much worse until there is no way out.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
I think we should improve our education and encourage business to have their business in United States. Or else, everyone will plan on moving their business to different countries and hire people outside of United States, which means fewer jobs for the Americans and unstable economy. The people investing outside of United States cannot be blamed because after all they all want to make profits. If it allows them to make more profit investing outside then obviously they will continue to invest outside and get foreign employer. The government should bring down the taxes, and give people a chance to make profit while doing business in USA.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
I agree with Friedman, our economy is not as bad right now but it will get worse if we don’t take any actions. According to the article, “ranked the U.S. sixth among the top 40 industrialized nations in innovative competitiveness,” but the bad news is we are not improving like other nations. If we want to keep our high level in our economy we must take immediate actions now. If we wait for time, soon we will be too low and unable to come back up. It is true that we spend, borrow and patch, and it is not a good sign. We must put an end to our dependency on other things.
A.G. Pd.2
ReplyDelete1) Freidman is not optimistic at all about America's future. The U.S. is badly lagging in developing the next generation of scientific talent and incentives to encourage research of these ideas that create more jobs.
2)To make our country stronger, we should not only change our education system to produce more skilled laborers, but we should also give tax breaks to factories that encourage the growth new technologies and research of new technologies.
3) I am shocked that we placed dead last. I was always convinced by television and the news that we were up to date and even ahead. Obviously thats not the situation and I think we should be doing more to change our ways and get up to date.
1. Friedman lacks optimism for America's future, because he believes that the country strives for instant gratification, and treats the symptoms, rather than resolving the underlying issue.
ReplyDelete2. To make our country stronger, Friedman believes that we should lower the cost of conducting business in America by reducing taxes and providing incentives for innovation and construction projects. Or, conduct a siege of other nations.
3. I am not knowledgeable enough in this field to provide a well informed opinion, but America is strong enough economically to provide relief for other nations, so it can't be that bad.
christine period 8
ReplyDelete1)i think that Friedman is a bit on the pessimistic side because he is talking about achievements and low standards.although we are sixth in the innovative competitiveness, we are dead last in innovation development. this only shows that we make decisions on things that should not be first. depite the push for better education in math and science, the innovative ideas and inspirations arent prevalent in the united states today. he wants us to move on already and let competition be the next BIG issue.
there is a pessimistiv tone at the end of the article because he criticitzes the public about the monetary mistakes we;ve made.he also talks about how hes scared that if we dont start soon, we will never get back into the competition for best innovative industry.
2) i think more emphasis should be focused on math and science. although i don't like science very much, it is close to being a necessity today.new diseases are being found today.more complicated tax returns will need to be filled out. math and science will pave the way to so much more technology.
3)i actually never knew we were dead last in the innovative industry. i always thought we were ahead of other developed countries. however, this is just a means of inspiration and encouragement for us to try harder. i think that we are so worried about our health that we arent even focused on what helps and cures us from our many health problems.
SCIENCE
DEREK Y
ReplyDelete1. Friedman was very pessimistic about the future of America. We are compared to LAX which was once one of the most modern and advanced places in America has now become outdated and living in its former glory. America is not the place it once was because we are not advancing over time as other countries are.
2. To fix this problem I believe that we must make more progress in our market economy. It is now cheaper to produce products in other countries such as China, and other countries in Asia. This puts us at a big disadvantage to other economies. We must gain more credibility. Maybe giving incentives and benefits for manufacturers that operate in the United States will cause more corporations to produce their products here.
3. I believe that America is indeed very powerful in the world economy, but we are not as diligent as we once were. This has caused to fall into a recession, and we are now losing our position to other economic world powers such as China. We do hold many ties to the economy of our world, which is why other countries need us, but we will eventually need to become yet again, more aggressive.
1. Friedman was not very optimistic about America's future. He accuses Obama of not doing enough for bussiness and spending too much effort and attention on his health care reform ideas. He says that it is now cheaper for multinational companies to recruit employees from other countries and claims that the American education is severely lacking.
ReplyDelete2. According to Friedman and the people he talked with, the government should boost research and development tax credit and lower corporate taxes. Education should play a more important role and competiveness should be increased.
3. I do not know enough about the American economy to form an educated opinion on the matter, however the American per capita is still much higher than that of other countries, including countries that many think are doing better financially, such as China (where many laborers work for almost nothing), and America owns the biggest businesses in the world. So, although it may be in decline, the American economy still looks very solid.
Stan
Period 2
Richard C
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
Economics
1. It is very clear that Friedman is being pessimistic in this article. The way he presented his points in this article makes me think of a race (of innovation or technological advancements). America is initially the front runner (because it sprinted as hard as it could at the start and got ahead). However, America is slowing down greatly and other runners, such as China, are speeding up. Friedman is pessimistic because he feels that other countries will pass America in this “race” and become more innovative and competitive. This can have a devastating blow on the economy because if America is supplanted by another country as the most innovative and competitive countries, American companies will face many great threats in companies from other countries.
2. As of now, America has lost its competitive edge. America is not preparing its students to compete and defeat students from other countries. In my opinion, America should get into the relentless mode that it was in during the Cold War. America was able to become the superpower it is today with measures such as NASA, the introduction of the AP program, and many others. America must realize that it is in a competition and must train for this competition by challenging its future leaders (the students of today) with more stringent classes and higher expectations. The expectations that are placed on students right now are too low. Students in this country must be encouraged to aim higher.
3. The reasons for the economic success of America are inventions. America was the pioneer in many industries such as the car industry, the aviation industry, and the internet industry. In other words, the thing that enabled America to be a rich country was its ability to make new things that people all over the world would want to buy. But now that I read this article and realize that other countries are becoming than America in innovation, I see a grim forecast. Other countries will blaze past America in the race that I eluded to in question 1, and as a result, the American economy will suffer. My opinion of our economy is simple: if we are not able to stay innovative, our economy will collapse and might not be repairable.
1.Clearly Friedman is not very optimistic concerning America's economic future, and judging from the information he brought up in the article, there isn't much of a reason to be. Clearly the United States has not, in recent years, done enough to ensure that big technology companies have the support and the incentive to work here in America and hire American workers. This suprised me, seeing as since the 80's, we've been controlled by a pretty conservative government that supported big business. But it would explain our failing education system, which always takes a backseat to more immediate problems.
ReplyDelete2. Clearly, our education system needs to be re-hauled. This means more money, but more importantly, more effort. We need to emphasize math and science in schools. We still embrace a century’s worth of bad ideas. We need to lower corporate taxes so that large companies(like Intel) will want to go and invest in America's future rather than out East. They want to be here, we need to give them a reason to stay!
3. Clearly America is on the recline. The evidence is there. So would say every great empire must fall. But we are not an empire. We represent a new idea in government, a free system where every voice counts, and where we can each be individuals going after our own dreams together. We have the ability to turn things around, and its time we put America back in its place on top, an example for the other nations of the world.
1. Friedman is quite wary of America's economic and financial future. His pessimism is evident through his of China, Los Angeles, and America as a whole. He feels that for a country that is used to running on business, there is very little attention that is being paid to businesses.
ReplyDelete2. Instead of focusing on healthcare reform and funding vocational and charter school education, there should be tax breaks for new manufacturers or business owners which would entice them to contribute to the growth of the economy.
3. America is an integral part of the world's economy. This has less to do with America's current power and more to do with America's reputation. Since America has always been known as a strong and stable country, such financial instability would make other countries wary and decrease their spending and cause a vicious cycle of a declining world economy.
1. Friedman is anything but optimistic about America's future. With slipping education standards, our work force is no longer distinctive over that of any other industrial nation. Combine that with our punishing corporate taxes and few companies will want to continue business here. This is a major problem because it is going unaddressed. America is the lowest in forty industrial nations to improve its business climate- this is such a threat to our leadership in the global economy, yet it doesn't seem like any action is being taken.
ReplyDelete2. To make our country stronger, we should bring more troops to Afghanistan to raise our self confidence. ... All jokes aside, as annoying as it sounds, I think the best thing we can do is to be lenient on businesses. Sure it evokes anger when top executives get 7 figure bonuses, but it may be our only way of enticing them to stay. Prospering business is a prospering economy, whether we like it or not. Furthermore, we need to raise our education standards to show that we do still have the most innovative and ingenious workforce there is. As Obama said, the first nation to develop alternative energy will be the global economic leader. To retain our position, we must accomplish this task--MIT's going to have to step it up.
3.I do believe that America is gradually slipping as an economic leader. As Friedman argues, the change is so gradual that it is hard to realize, but I do think that it is nevertheless the truth. I personally think that we continue to spend too much money on wars and the military. Sure we might still be an arms leader, but that won't matter much anymore in a digital age when a quick change in the Dow Jones Industrial Index could have profound changes on the economy. I also think big cities like New York are losing their financial leadership to newer rising cities. We've gone from a city on a hill to a city in a ditch.
--Manjinder
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
ReplyDeleteIt’s grim because we aren’t focusing on the technology and education in America. We are spending too much time on bailouts and healthcare. We need to give money to the areas of technology so we can advance to a step great as nations such as South Korea. This will help increase competition and increase levels of technology and education.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
We should invest more in technology and education and allow more tax cuts on them so it’s cheaper. Also we much increase the level of k-12 education so that we can match the testing standards of the world. Currently our pre-college education is at the bottom and we need to improve it to match the greatness of our universities.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
I believe we are at low level due to our current economic problems. Without enough money parents can’t help support a student to succeed in school. Without money, the schools can’t afford the teachers and materials needed to teach students at a higher level. The main problem I believe is the lack of money in the areas of America that really need it. We have to invest in the minds of the future to succeed.
-Kazi pd 8
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
ReplyDeleteFriedman is not optimistic about America's future. He beleives that America is not doing much to back up the industries and is not attempting to make an effort to keep up with the other countries. America is too busy trying to "patch" things up and is not really looking into the future.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
I think the government should spend more money to aid research in science so that we can make advance in the science field. Also, the government should spend more money on science programs for students to develop a bright new generation.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
Obviously American economy is declining. Now that America is weaker, there is a domino effect on the rest of the world. Even though America has influential power, underneath the surface it is growing weaker.
-N.P. PD 2
1) Friedmann is pessimistic about America's future in the economic world , he is completely aware about the fact that it's the country doesn't innovate it will be surpassed by devellopinf country as China. I think he is right and if i'm not mistaken it seems to me that USA is now ranged 2nd in the classification of economic power, the first one being China, so he has real reason to be worried.
ReplyDelete2)As i said before, according what Friedmann writes the key of success for america is innovation he even says that Los angeles airport is representative of what America is a country overwhelmed by wrinkles i found it's a good image, an old lady living in his memories(usa) surpassed by a young woman (china) ! Moreover with the example of the businessman's speech we clearly understand that Friedmann call on his country to not rest on its laurels but to be more competitive. As a french person it's interesting to read an American person point of view about his country's economy, and to see that he is so critical, because in France American people is know for being very competitive. Very often young French businessmen go to settle there because they deplore the lack of competitivity among French people and they even sometimes have the feeling of wasting their time in their own country.
3) I partially agree with naisha i don't think that Usa lost its influence in econmy i rather think that it 's less influential than before mainly because of the crisis, let's not forget that the crisis started in usa ( with the subprimes) and then spreaded to other countries . But she is right when she says that the country it 's still very influential in terms of culture and media , maybe it's what will help to save the American economy.
1. Friedman is not hopeful when he speaks about the future of America. We are falling behind in almost every area of technology and the ways in which we are trying to fix it aren’t solving the problem. Patching up holes will only hold it together for so long before America can no longer hold it together.
ReplyDelete2. Like I said before, patching the holes will not solve the problem. We need to change our outlook on the economy and realize that it isn’t going anywhere. New technologies need to be incorporated, and the increasing amount of taxes drives consumers away. People are being forced to make decisions rather than letting the economy flow freely.
3. We were once a powerful nation when our economy soared. But now we are paying for things that we have done. Not all of these things may have been bad, but the many mistakes that we made are haunting us. Not doing some things like investing in new technologies earlier is also beginning to show an effect as other countries surpass us. The truth is, America cannot be successful unless there is a war to be fought or unless we completely reshape our economy; the latter of which I do not see happening very soon.
AJ PD2
1 -Friedman, doesn't seem optimistic about America' s future ; indeed he is in a state of uncertainty ; He doesn't think that Americans can invest in their own country because of the the taxes which are more expensive ; that is why they prefer resort to other country like China So, it is easy to understand why the U.S rankes dead last out of the same 40 nations concerning I.T infrastructure, economic performance ...
ReplyDeleteMoreover, the Americans need to change their living conditions , their habits in order to the country becomes as competitive as innovative ; So, it is important to stop spending, borrowing or patching to not be faced with the others companies and to preserve their empolyements; In this way , Friedman establishes a contradiction between China and the US saying that the others "save , invest and build what undermine the default of the american system.
".
2- As a solution, I think America has to make decisions like the decrease in taxes so that they developpe their economic power; so, more companies will invest in America and also higher the corporate tax. Like Otellini, I believe that competitiveness and education are related because, if there is a great nevel in the country from a social and intellectual point of view, if the Americans pursue their studies, they will go further in the activ and professional world , and they will be the pround and the elements which will let the country to be stonger and it will be difficult to rival with it .
3- The fact that America is sixth in the ranking is a schocking thing , because everytime,we know the good aspects of the society , for instance when an actress won a price ... all these bad details aren't sufficiently outlined and developped , and only we can have a good opinion about what happens in America; I think that these negative news are hidden behind a curtain of good events ; But, this fact doesn't change anything to this situation , that is why , it is important to realise what are the defaults of the american society , in order to improve things , because all is possible in America
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
ReplyDeleteThomas L. Friedman is not very optimistic about America's future. He not this way because he seees the American country focusing on one goal at a time, and not realizing that they need to move on to a brighter future. When he compares the United States advancement in technology to those of other countries, we fail short and thus he has lose faith in the future of America.
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
Thomas L. Feldman believes that we should be focusing ont technological development to make our country stronger. Also, he believes that tax breaks must be given and the emphasis on education should be increased.
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
In my opinion America's economy is terrible right now. Every since we had Bush in office and he got us into this federal deficit the county has been trying to pick up the pieces. However, this is not an easy feat because our economy is in shambles but reconstruction could be accomplished with hard work and dedication.
Friedman is completely pessimistic about America’s future. He shows slight signs of optimism, but immediately shoots them down. At first the reader would think that comparing America to LAX is a great comparison because of its popularity and how many services it runs a day. Unfortunately, LAX isn’t a great commodity anymore and it’s starting to deteriorate. There are visible signs that it is falling apart and will continue to fall apart if no repair is done. Like LAX, America’s future back then used to look great, but now it’s just starting to spiral downwards. In addition, recent studies show that although America is ranked 6th out of 40 countries in industrialized nations; it is ranked last in rate of development. I completely agree with Friedman in that the future of America isn’t as bright as it used to be.
ReplyDeleteIn order to change these fortunes, America should look in a different direction and emphasize on education. Education is important because the educated will have more room to improve our system than an older person would. In order to do this though, we need to find a way to make learning more students friendly to get more people involved. The more, the better.
I believe America is heading toward a path that isn’t prosperous, but there is still time to change. I never realized how much America had slipped as a nation in the industry world. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement. America will get back on its feet and continue to be a powerhouse someday.
1.“‘When you take a hard look at the things that make any country competitive. ... we are slipping.’” This line whole-heartedly displays Friedman’s view of American innovation. He believes we are far behind other countries in terms of IT, infrastructure, etc. Friedman goes on to say that this is due to the fact that math and science education are not as encouraged in the US, as it is in other countries.
ReplyDelete2. As previously stated, math and science education are obviously neglected in the US. In order to move forward, it is necessary that more incentives and more pressure are placed on these disciplines.
3. I feel that many of us are well off enough to live comfortably. This article, however, has opened my eyes to the fact that we are not progressing as a nation in terms of technology. Clearly we must advance in order to maintain a status as a world power.
Daniel Atlas Pd 8
ReplyDelete1. Friedman makes many points to show that the US is primitave in today's technological realm. He says that because the US does not place focus and incentives on math and science education, there are many other counties which succeed us in terms of progressivism. As a result, the US is seen as outdated in its technology, including IT.
2. Friedman makes it seem as though the US government should place more emphasis on math and science education in order to further outselves technology. Honestly, I think more incentives would motivate me into having a career in such a field.
3. I feel that the US has been focusing on its own economic issues so much that we have lost sight of its global standing. All you could hear about for the past year was bail-out this, and recession that. Even though the economy is not as great as it once was, things are put more into perspective when you compare the US to other economies that seem to be progressing.
I think America's downfall compared to other countries is complacency. Traditionally, the American mindset is one that is never truly satisfied, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Traditionally, Americans always want more and the want for more makes innovation and improvement a necessity. The post-war America developed an ego and a high place in the world. Because the new generation of Americans grew up feeling powerful and higher up, we lack ambition because we lack competition. For now. The only way to keep America a worthy component in the world-rankings is to constantly seek ways to improve on what is already good.
ReplyDelete1. Friedman says that the US is behind in technology compared to the rest of the world. He brings up the idea that math and science are not emphasized enough in schools. Because of this, the US is becoming outdated in terms of technology.
ReplyDelete2. To improve the US, we should start to improve our infrastructure and education. A good infrastructure will help all of society to function and education will allow a new generation of innovators to lead the country.
3. Today, I feel that the US' place in the world economy is starting to slip. Before, US companies would dominate much of the world markets. Today, these companies are moving out of the US because of the economic downturn. This steers the US away from its place as an economic superpower.
1) Obviously, Friedman is anything but optimistic of America's future. He believes that we are lacking in terms of technological development which will in turn cause innovative competitiveness to grow. This would probably cause a harsh blow to our economy.
ReplyDelete2)The only way to improve our country is to increase our competitiveness with other countries. One of the ways we can do that is by putting more emphasis on math and science fields as Friedman had previous said.
3)America's standing in the global economy has definitely decreased because of our lack of innovation. Other countries such as China are starting to become better at developing new technology and new products and etc while America is losing focus on innovation. I believe that if we put more emphasis on innovation and technology, we might regain our economic standing.
C.N. pd 2
America is slowly losing what made it the most powerful economic force in the world : it' s competitiveness. Friedman is just warning his fellow citizens about the fact America may lose the race against China. Indeed, the crisis was a catastrophe for the American economy, the country must change to adapt itself to this new challenge. Obama chose to take care of the American people first, that is to say he chose to rebuild the social part of America first. He hadn't the choice, after the crisis the country was on the verge of a revolution, it was necessary to calm down the crowds , and make American citizens to have faith in the State again. So Obama undertook social reforms and he' s actually fighting for the Health Care reform bill to be passed. However Friedman thinks this choice is affecting America' s dynamic economy. In effect as China is taking over the world, America is getting hindered. That's because America hasn' t recovered from the crisis yet. Friedman critisizes the choices of the Obama administration in terms of economic policies, competitiveness is what make the American economy react so fast in front of a crisis, and if nothing is done to give a new impulse to the American economy, America won't be in the race anymore.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, America is also losing its capacity to innovate, and in Friedman's opinion it is related to education. As Otellini says, if he can't get the best engineers at the MIT he' ll get them out of Tsin Hua. So there are less chances for American workers to be employed in the Intel company as the entreprise is slowly moving away to China. Actually, for the Intel company China means better, engineers, more money, and a huge market to conquest. If american engineers had better education, it would incite such companies as Intel to stay ont the American ground.
Friedman' s point view is also revealing of the debate about the choice of society model : more socialism or more liberalism ? Actually it is Democrats versus Republicans, but in the end the question is worth to be asked, what should they do ?
It seems that more than ever, America is at a turning point of its history, will it be able to compete against China, or will it fall ?
Friedman is not at all optimistic about America's future because America is falling behind in competing with other countries. We lack an economy that encourages the development of our own country. Many of our major corporations, like Intel, outsource their jobs and goods simply because it is cheaper. Intel has recently built a factory in China and claims that it has no shortage of good engineers from top schools like Tsinghua University in China. We are falling behind in research and technology.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Friedman, we need to invest in research to boost our economy, and listen to the needs of the corporations to be more globally competitive. He also believes that we should give them more tax breaks and incentives to keep their business and factories within the United States. I disagree with this, because no matter how hard we try, companies will still go to China and India for the cheap materials and cheap labor. Companies are stingy, and there's not we can do about it. We can only attempt to increase the number of engineering and science graduates to appease the companies.
The government is currently still trying to recruit kids into STEM fields. Due to the environment I'm exposed to, I've seen that it does work--however, it will take a long time for the government to see the fruits of their labor.
America still remains fairly dominant. Whenever I go to China, my family members all claim that American goods are of a better quality than Chinese goods. We're still seen as a rich, industrialized nation, despite the debt we owe. We need to find some way to keep our major corporations, and their jobs and business, in the United States in order to be globally competitive.
Friedman doesn't seem as pessimistic as much as he seems worried. As an American he worries that America will get left behind, as other countries advance us, in areas such as industrialization , and education. While as a citizen he may want to open his new factory in the US, business wise his best bet would be opening one in China. At this day in age you can find quality workers in any country, because other countries are placing an emphasis on education that will give them an edge in the future. What America should really do, is place more of an emphasis on education and raising standards, so that we can educate a new generation of analytical thinkers.
ReplyDeleteFriedman isn't optimistic about the future of America in the slightest. Instead of tackling several goals at once to maximize America's efficiency, which could also aid in overall progression, the government continues to put in a mediocre effort into solving one problem at a time. With this in mind, it's no surprise that we fall so short in technology in comparison to other countries.
ReplyDeleteFriedman's opinion to make our country stronger would be to focus on the development of our technology and increase the standards of education. Low educational standards contribute to the issue of low-tech simply because students are taught with low-tech, to master and become proficient with low-tech, only to develop and produce more low technology equipment.
America's position is very low in the world economy at the moment and there is no way to deny or try and cover it up. With all the bail-outs on businesses that can't maintain stability, and all the bankruptcies occuring within the many smaller businesses, America is in a recurring cycle of trail and error with its "solutions."
Andrew Ma / Period 2 /
ReplyDeleteFriedman's outlook on America is very bleak, to say the least. He criticizes the entire societal point of view that Americans have, while praising the Chinese for the opposite reasons. Friedman says, "They save, invest and build. We spend, borrow and patch." This simple statement reveals the extent of how America is a country that, if it keeps walking down the path of destructive behavior as a country, will unravel and fall victim to Chinese progressiveness. Another shocking instance is when he quotes a global employer who says "“As a citizen, I hate it. As a global employer, I have the luxury of hiring the best engineers anywhere on earth. If I can’t get them out of M.I.T., I’ll get them out of Tsing Hua” — Beijing’s M.I.T.". This quote tells of how we're not the only able bodied workers anymore, and we might have slightly slacked off because of that simple fact.
Lindsey Lee / Period 1
ReplyDeleteFriedman isn't optimistic about America's future, but is more worried that we will lack in advancement. Since other countries globally are becoming more advanced in technology, and have advancements in education as well, he is worried we will fall behind and won't be able to catch up. We should be putting a larger emphasis on education in America, because the education system lacks a lot compared to other countries. We fall short in academics in America because when we fall into trouble, the first place to take out money from is the education funds. Less education funds means there will be less education which will slow down the advancement and make America fall short. America's place in the world economy is still strong but it is becoming weaker because it don't have a stable system and fall easily into debt. We lack in innovation and other countries are surpassing us. We are still high in economic standing, but if we continue to fall, we will start to lack behind other countries.
1. Friedman is not very optimistic at all. He feels America is slipping in the ranks of scientific talent, competitiveness and future innovations. He even compared LAX, a symbol of America, to one who’s Botox is starting to fade revealing the wrinkles below.
ReplyDelete2. To make the nation stronger, we should just watch more t.v. … no just kidding! We should stop being so lazy. Government agencies and private companies should have more incentives that would increase work flow and competition. And perhaps the government should have more programs to inspire future generations to become innovative thinkers and to take education seriously.
3. Well, I think America’s economy is at the bottom of the ladder right now because of the Iraqi war, the recent decline of banks and real-estate companies. But we’re slowly climbing towards the middle of the ladder. It’s going to take a while to repair the economy and for businesses to regain trust in the nation. But like Obama is doing, I think we should only handle one thing at a time. Work on the healthcare bill, and then refocus on the economy.