The next time Tom Friedman or one of his flat-world henchmen buttonhole you and tell you how America is just about to become India's doormat, in part because India produces so many math-and-science-genius engineers, tell him about the article in today's New York Times that says that the subcontinent has a ?chronic shortage of civil engineers? and, hence, a real mess of an infrastructure.
Whenever I come upon an essay about the oh-so-imminent dominance of China and India, countries where four-year-olds are supposedly finding derivatives and winning Fields Medals while here in America high-school kids?foul-up simple addition and drool on themselves,?I always wonder: Has the author ever been to China or India?
Take a trip. Spend a few days. It will put your mind (if?not your stomach)?at ease.
UPDATE: Here's more on the topic, from Foreign Affairs.
?Liam Julian