the downward spiral

Over the last two decades, U.S. scientists and engineers have discovered or pioneered the science behind one blockbuster product after another — from flat-panel screens and robotics to the lithium batteries that run next-generation power tools and electric cars. . . . Yet in almost every case, production, jobs and most of the economic benefits that sprang from those breakthroughs have ended up overseas.

much of the research behind those discoveries has been funded by the gummint, i.e. me and you, but this is your free-enterprise system at work so i don't know why anyone would complain ---