As one example of how the US has opted to not divest from progress. The same applies to American infrastructure. The US was very aggressive for many years, then stopped. Stopped investing in science, space, infrastructure, etc. and chose to rely almost entirely on the private sector. In return, we have wasted at least a thirty year lead.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 11 points 4 months ago

If I were to compress the last fifty years of the imperial core down to one word, it would be neoliberalism.

[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Meanwhile in Western society, 40% don’t believe in evolution, flat-earthism and “birds are drones” have moved from silly jokes into serious movements, and a significant minority of people think that COVID was a hoax and the vaccines were made to implant mind-control chips.

No wonder China has surged ahead… even an authoritarian state can easily leapfrog a society crippled by anti-intellectualism, alternative facts, and cultivated ignorance.

[–] naturalgasbad@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

CAS pumps out so much good work it's crazy.

CAS today isn't the CAS for years ago.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 months ago

Sure, but only because China is an authoritarian hellscape that makes children wear tiny, adorable lab coats and do science 27 hours a day, 28 if they’re Uyghur children.