[JackFr]

> We are stuck in 30 years ago of "we're so much better than everyone" that we're refusing to see how our lead has quickly worsened

Those who have lived through the scares geopolitical threat of the Cold War in the 1970's, and the economic threat of Japan Inc. in the 1980's can be a little more circumspect about the growing Chinese "threat". I don't have illusions about "we're so much better", but we do have something special. Market driven economies and stable liberal democratic structures have served us quite well, from the explosion in growth in the Netherlands in the 17th century, through the expansion of Great Britain in the 18th and 19th and down to the United States in the 20th. That Western Europe would rather pay for a social safety net rather than an expansive military is a public choice.

Should the US invest more in infrastructure? Possibly. At the same time, I'm skeptical to things that have a whiff of industrial policy and central planning, it really hasn't worked as well for those who have embraced it.

[atonse]

I agree with that in general, by the way, at least in theory. But those institutions have been tested like crazy in the past few years, to the point where fundamental things are changing (some immigrants going to other countries like Canada, etc).

I just think it's depressing to think that we've built zero miles, ZERO miles of high speed rail in 10 years, when China built 8,000.

Let's be realistic, it's China's embrace of capitalism through Special Economic Zones that's truly led to their vibrant economic growth. So I'm not advocating for central planning. I'm just saying that resting on our laurels based on the idea that America was once so far ahead, without realizing that we're not THAT far ahead anymore, is a mistake. (seems like you're saying similar things though)