Computer Sciences and Information Technology - Essay Example

Computer sciences and Information technology “That Used To Be Us” America is a nation that is confronted with many challenges. The significant challenges include globalization, the advancement of information technology, the country’s persistent deficits, and the pattern of unwarranted energy consumption. The continuous failure to handle these issues will derail the achievement of the American dream. Friedman and Mandelbaum explicate what the nation needs to do to sustain the American dream and safeguard the American supremacy in the globe. This will significantly aid in advancing and fostering the American dream. They also expound how the finale of the Cold War blinded the country to the need to tackle these issues critically, and how China’s instructive successes, industrial supremacy, and technological aptitude make America reminisce the ways in which that used to be America at one point. They also explicate how the paralysis of America’s political structure and the attrition of fundamental American principles made it impractical for the nation to execute the policies. These are policies that the nation urgently requires. This is a volume that delves into the significant quandaries impacting America (Friedman and Mandelbaum, p.3). The significant quandaries outlined in the volume adversely confront the American nation, and hence; illuminate on the need to educate the labour force. This is crucial in this epoch of rapid globalization and drastic advancements in information technology. Additionally, there is also necessity to conquer the war on mathematics which has continuously led the nation’s uncontrolled cut on revenues and ignore the influence of deficits and the escalating debt burden. The warfare on physics has also resulted in the widespread rebuff of the realities of the energy plan and climate change strategies. There is also the political stalemate that is as a consequence of money in political affairs. In addition, there is the nation’s failure to invest in fundamental scientific research. Furthermore, this is a consequence of failure to address crucial infrastructure and to execute and sustain sound legislation of the markets. This consequently adds onto the quandary of globalization (Friedman and Mandelbaum, p. 183). The importance of globalization is the unrestricted movement of individuals, items and services. This idea disseminated from the U.S. to other nations. The nation enjoyed tremendous economic advancement. However, the country did not cater for the impacts of this globalization. With regard to globalization and technological advancement, jobs and individuals’ careers have been polarized. This polarization has resulted into eradication of habitual, middle skill jobs retaining high skill careers only which demand extensive education and numerous low salary jobs. These jobs, however, cannot be computerized. Nonetheless, the authors do not envisage the probable dramatic advancement of technology in the approaching decades (Friedman and Mandelbaum, p. 10). The two authors, however, profoundly believe that the revitalization of American prominence is achievable and possible. They explain how, America’s account, when correctly comprehended, provides a five-part procedure for prosperity that will enhance America to cope effectively with the present issues. They provide vibrant profiles of persons who have not lost hope on the American habits of gallant thought and remarkable action. They recommend a lucid way out of the predicament into which the American nation has fallen. This process also comprises the rediscovery of some of the nation’s crucial principles and customs. Additionally, they foster the initiation of a novel, third party revolution to spur the nation. This volume is both an incisive exploration of the American situation today and a stimulating program for American revitalization. The volume commences by contrasting a six-month project to repair two escalators at New Jersey train depot with an eight months operation in China. The construction in China resulted in the building of an enormous and an elaborate convention centre. This comparison underscores the volume’s title. This presents the presumption that America no longer pilots the globe in its capacity to innovate and effectively develop novel things and ideas. The hard situation is not only an American predicament. The authors assert that it is not plainly a subject of advancing the living standards of impending generations in the nation, but it is a lot more. This is a distinct situation which is extremely exceptional, since the U.S. has a significant duty in providing vital public amenities across the world. They assert that if the American administration does not prioritize the need for urgent and massive revitalization; the universe will persist to be destitute. The volume is a solicitous and balanced corrective to varied critics who present that the nation’s current economic downfalls. They depict the critical failure of the laissez-faire democratic, capitalist notions on which the nation is grounded. Additionally, it presents an incisive standpoint to other critics who assert that, the only remedy is the utilization of the 19th-century small administration strategies that can salvage the nation (Friedman and Mandelbaum, p. 13). The President’s remarks on China’s massive technological advancement pose the query as to whether America retains its renowned status as a superpower. Some critics argue that the enormous budget deficits, political stalemate, economic downturn, underperforming educational institutions poses the most significant challenges. These two prominent thinkers join an increasing number of foreign policy theorists. They forewarn that America’s rank abroad cannot endure without revitalization of the local sources of the American opulence and strength. These concerns are extremely defendable. The American nation is confronted with the most significant set of issues since the 1930’s. This is since the economic despair and the collapse of the British-led global order which invoked basic queries with regard to the domestic politics and global strategy. Friedman and Mandelbaum were conceived at a period of the untroubled epoch of the “used to be” past the war Baby Boom. This was an epoch of significant optimism about the nation and the presumption that the nation could react communally for the mutual good. As a consequence of these issues, the country slow development makes most American nationals presume that the decline is not happening. This is what the authors describe as the nationwide water cooler. This water cooler exemplar illuminates how individuals have been used to the situation. The situation that the country is on a down low and nothing can be done about it. This is the feeling of resignation, the feeling that, this situation is going to be there forever. This is the logical judgment that America is way past its best days and China’s most promising days are in front of it. The subject has immensely become the core of the water cooler hypothesis. The volume presents proclamations from youngsters and state representatives who present that America has stopped being aggressive and China is utilizing the situation to advance. The American nation has diminished its aggressiveness since it no longer accepts confrontations, tolerate privation or intimidation and head into the world of the unknown. It is with this confidence that the nation built railroads and overcame monstrous dictators. The nation also took some individuals to the moon. The viewpoints of perturbed optimists present that the UK controlled the nineteenth century America conquered the twentieth century while China is anticipated to dominate the 21st century. China’s rapid advancement depicts this presumption as indicated by its exceptional transformations in the transit system. This is a volume to discourage all American nationals not to resign themselves to accept this conception. The frustration of the authors is evident. However, they assert that the American community, with its flexible economy, variety of opinions and talents, its exceptional work ethics and the capacity for the invention are extremely supremely suited to triumph tremendously in a rapidly confronting world. They also present that the nation’s political and commercial sectors, when operating properly, can utilize the country’s talents and innovative energy to address these challenges. This is extremely achievable since, in the nation’s annals, the exceptional national accomplishment provides favorable grounds for the capacity to conquer these difficulties. Optimism or cynicism with regard to America’s future will not simply be an element of the nation’s capacity to do remarkable things. The American populace is undertaking significant initiatives such as philanthropic work, volunteerism, and personal initiatives among others. However, this is not adequate to restore the nation, but it is crucial to have collaborative action on a massive scale. The authors further assert that the country is home to varied innovative, endowed, hardworking individuals. However, it is extremely exasperating to see how many of these persons feel that the nation does not edify the labour force they require. It also does not accept the vigorous immigrants they seek. Additionally, the nation is not utilizing the infrastructure they seek, or financing the research they envisage, or initiating intelligent tax regulations and incentive that the country’s contenders have instigated. With regard to the solutions, the authors utilize the typical American approach. Significant thinkers in the U.S. state that, a significant and forward-looking federal administration should foster a healthy local economy and an influential global presence (Friedman and Mandelbaum, p. 246). The next stage for American opulence is the revitalization of the vision for a massive, pro-market countrywide administration that provides the most constructive probable conditions. This administration will also provide finances for the infrastructure to foster private enterprise. This vision cuts across the traditional wisdom of political parties. Some politicians believe that an influential federal administration would abuse liberty and misuse taxpayer funds. Conclusion The discourse in the volume leaves the reader at his or her personal discretion to establish whether this is the situation in America or not. Their recommendation is that American nationals need to work harder, save more monies, use less money while investing prudently. This will consequently get the nation back to the formula that made it triumphant as a nation in every preceding historical turn. They insist that what the country needs is not novel or alien, but principles, priorities and practices entrenched in the country’s history and civilization. These principles when employed assist in compelling the nation forward. That is in the annals of the American nation, and it is possible for the country restore itself. What is impressive in the volume is how the authors illuminate on American quandaries without fear. These challenges have to be addressed so as to foster the country’s advancement. Work Cited Friedman, Thomas & Mandelbaum, Michael. That Used to Be Us: How America fell behind in the World it invented and how we can come back. D & M Publishers Inc., 2011. Read More