Michael Kratsios from the White House shared ideas about American tech leadership. He believes golden eras happen through choices, not chance. Progress comes from political decisions rather than natural development. Where public money goes shapes which technologies succeed. Stagnation happens because leaders make bad choices.
Kratsios points to abandoned projects like Moon missions and supersonic planes. These failed because the rules became very strict. The 1970s created endless safety regulations that never decreased. These barriers slow down energy, transportation, and building projects more than a lack of new ideas does. Countries either create wealth through innovation or borrow money and use cheap labor.
America needs to protect its tech advantages from China. This requires guarding intellectual property, controlling supply chains, and limiting exports. The US helped China grow through investments and knowledge sharing. Political responsibility matters most for keeping tech leadership.
Engineers and scientists must engage with politics instead of staying neutral. We need a new agreement where society actively decides how technology develops. People should move beyond just using digital comforts. Only deliberate choices can help humans truly control time and space beyond smartphone screens.
Kratsios points to abandoned projects like Moon missions and supersonic planes. These failed because the rules became very strict. The 1970s created endless safety regulations that never decreased. These barriers slow down energy, transportation, and building projects more than a lack of new ideas does. Countries either create wealth through innovation or borrow money and use cheap labor.
America needs to protect its tech advantages from China. This requires guarding intellectual property, controlling supply chains, and limiting exports. The US helped China grow through investments and knowledge sharing. Political responsibility matters most for keeping tech leadership.
Engineers and scientists must engage with politics instead of staying neutral. We need a new agreement where society actively decides how technology develops. People should move beyond just using digital comforts. Only deliberate choices can help humans truly control time and space beyond smartphone screens.
