# 6: The comeback: how innovation will restore the American dream

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars stupid!, January 10, 2011 this review is from: The Comeback: how innovation will restore the American dream (Hardcover) thesis Shapiro is that our Government spends too much, our economy creates too little, and we are preparing our children to compete. Meanwhile, Forbes.com reports that 6 of the 10 richest counties in the United States, while Detroit surround D.C. and other cities crumble. OK-not too bad, he is 2 to 3 at this point.
Then his recommendations. 1) Innovate more. Sounds good. The reality is that jobs don't follow is no more innovation like they used to-eg. tear-off analysis of iPhone 3 G has shown only $ 1.15 of total U.S. contribution is a manufacturing and preliminary data on the iPhone 4 G, iPod and iPad does not seem to differ. At the same time, new social networking sites have high value that attracted so much attention from innovators and venture funds have few employees-es. Facebook is estimated to have an assessment of 50 billion dollars, with only 1600 employees (the latter figure for Zuckerberg in September 2010). Finally, China is rapidly increasing pressure on U.S. innovation by forcing businesses wanting to do business with it to establish/transfer their R&D to China, along with proprietary technology. R&D costs are lower in China, and there are also signs that Chinese R&D is also more efficient.
2) dances around the issue Shapiro of illegal immigrants from Mexico-a topic involving approximately 12 million. His real interest is to encourage more immigrants from Asia-a valid point, but becomes more difficult, as China and India offer more opportunities at home.
3) Shapiro wants more free trade agreements and to delete ' Buy America ' provisions. Great-it's like offering to extend and deepen the pool for a man from drowning.
Shapiro has a recommendation 4) covered to reduce public expenditure, together with some incomplete ideas to reduce health care costs (e.g. reducing malpractice awards) and a blanket statement that ' Government can reduce health care costs. " Obviously he is unaware that credible research (including the Congressional Budget Office) has determined that the malpractice contributes only about 5% for the costs of health care (U.S. health costs about 18% of GDP, compared to about 4% for our main competitor, China). The Government is unable to control health care costs-all other developed Nations development that I know, with the possible exception of China, government restrictions on reimbursement as a ploy to use root by holding down costs.
5) to improve education, Says Shapiro, but again he dances around the subject and there is nothing specific to offer. He probably is unaware that we have approximately tripled the proper inflation for-student expenditure on education in the early 1970s-with little or nothing to show for it, while the unique approach that seems to work is working very hard-more pupil and the parents ' motivation, longer school days, longer school years and more at home.
Bottom-line: my guess is that the author Shapiro dictated much of the book in about 5 minutes-it's just a regurgitation of old wives Tales.
help other customers find the most useful reviews This review was helpful?

View the original article here