America Today: At a Crossroads

Is America on the Right Path?

For decades, the United States has stood as the epicenter of global innovation and a symbol of freedom. However, in recent years, mounting internal challenges have cast a shadow over America’s future. Will the United States maintain its position as a global leader, or will internal decay lead to its decline?

In this series, we examine the most critical issues facing America today and consider potential solutions.

Part 1: Education – Determining America’s Future

Once boasting the world’s premier education system, America leveraged creativity and innovation to maintain global leadership. Today, however, the rapid deterioration of educational quality raises serious concerns about future competitiveness. What went wrong, and how can we address these issues?

1. The Counterproductive Effects of Standardization

American education policy increasingly emphasizes “equity,” aiming to ensure identical outcomes for all students. Unfortunately, this approach deprives exceptional students of growth opportunities and lowers overall academic standards.

• Programs for gifted students are being systematically reduced
• Movements to eliminate standardized tests (SAT, ACT) make objective assessment increasingly difficult
• The “everyone wins” mentality diminishes the importance of competition and effort

Result: American students’ academic achievement continues to decline, leaving them disadvantaged in global competition.

2. The Weakening of STEM Education

While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education forms the backbone of future industries, its emphasis in American schools continues to diminish. Meanwhile, countries like China, South Korea, and India are strengthening their STEM education to build global competitiveness.

• American students’ mathematics and science performance shows consistent decline
• Political and social issues now take precedence over STEM in curricula
• Universities fail to adequately teach the technical skills businesses require

Result: Even Silicon Valley increasingly depends on foreign talent, highlighting the insufficient development of domestic expertise.

3. Solution: Redirecting American Education

To revitalize American education, the following reforms are essential:

• Strengthen meritocracy – Rather than standardization, provide greater opportunities for exceptional students
• Reinforce STEM education – Restore mathematics and science-centered education to prepare for future industries like AI, robotics, and semiconductors
• Reinstate standardized testing – Maintain objective assessment criteria
• Return to academic-centered education – Reclaim the essence of education rather than prioritizing political ideologies

If American education fails to transform, future innovation will emerge from other nations, not the United States.

Part 2: Business Environment – America’s Innovation Is Disappearing

The United States created the world’s leading companies through free-market economics. Recently, however, excessive regulation and business-unfriendly policies have become barriers to innovation. Silicon Valley is no longer the center of venture creation, and companies are leaving California.

1. Increased Corporate Regulation and Innovation Slowdown

Once the birthplace of venture businesses, California has become emblematic of corporate exodus.

• Labor laws (such as AB5) create an environment hostile to startup growth
• Excessive strengthening of antitrust regulations targeting large tech companies has slowed technological advancement
• High taxation policies and complex administrative procedures increase the burden of business operations

Result: Major companies like Tesla, Oracle, and HP are relocating their headquarters to states like Texas.

2. Deepening Dependence on Foreign Talent

As America’s education system deteriorates, innovation in Silicon Valley is increasingly driven by foreign-born talent.

• Young Americans prefer stable employment, demonstrating weakened entrepreneurial spirit
• A significant proportion of engineers at MIT and Stanford come from China, India, and South Korea
• The pool of domestic talent continues to shrink, increasing dependence on foreign expertise

Result: American companies struggle to find domestic talent capable of driving innovation.

3. China’s Rapid Technological Growth and America’s Inadequate Response

China, once dependent on American know-how, has now developed independent systems that allow it to compete on equal footing with the United States.

• China is catching up to the US in key areas including AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology
• While the Chinese government actively supports its companies, the US government intensifies corporate regulation
• American companies lose growth momentum amid excessive government intervention and regulation

Result: Chinese companies flourish with aggressive investment and support, while American companies struggle under regulatory constraints.

4. Solution: Transforming the Business Environment

For the United States to remain an innovation powerhouse, the following changes are necessary:

• Reduce corporate regulation & strengthen startup support – Allow venture businesses to grow freely
• Reform STEM education – Develop talent that meets corporate needs
• Support future industries – The government must strategically nurture industries like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology
• Implement business-friendly policies – Reduce excessive regulation and help companies maintain competitiveness

For the United States to remain a leader in innovation, it must restore freedom to its business and economic environment.