There are many things to criticize about China but they are absolutely to be admired in how they focus on building for the future.

The problem is that American industrial policy is based on quarterly earnings and not long term health of the republic as a whole. Biden's IRA program was effectively a step in the right direction but has been erased. We need our economic incentives to be aligned with long term growth and prosperity for all, not just wealth for those at the top of the dog pile.

Is this just a PR piece for Elon Musk?

As for the title, we already are going to fall behind, the only question is how far are we going to allow ourselves to fall behind before we change our economic policies. Or alternatively, how far can we fall behind before American hegemony becomes impotent and can be completely ignored by the rest of the world?

Unfortunately I think we may just keep blindly worshiping all the worst aspects of capitalism until complete collapse. Gen Y and Z may have changing thoughts about it, but im not sure it will add up enough to change the geriatric political landscape for another 2 decades, by which time the US will have lost all its leverage to do anything but dog everyone else's footsteps trying to pick up scraps.

America is too stupid and greedy to think past the next quarter. Our culture is so toxic and broken, we deserve to fall behind.

Maga will eventually consume itself and it will end. We'll spend the next 20 years rebuilding. That generation, will have the first chance to set us on a better path, becuase the path we are on now is fixed for the time being, and its not progressive or forward thinging in any way.

Once again, partisan politics is holding back progress. Annoys me as a centrist.

Democrats should avoid policies that promote central control and increases in national level regulations. They should specifically avoid subsidies and encourage private funding.

Republicans should ease off reactionary politics, and work to remove subsidies for entrenched oil/coal/hydrocarbon producers (but only where the cases where the oil is burned, one of the most ridiculous ways to use a resource).

Both sides should agree on removing subsidies for their respective "favorites" as a de-escalation and act of good faith.

All players should encourage nuclear within the above framework, as this is a potential win-win situation for all sides: reduces carbon emissions, promotes domestic industry, and many others.

One other thing about the US is that they're stubbornly protectionist when it comes to jobs. They're scared to introduce efficiencies such as automating things like manufacturing because some people will lose their jobs in the short-term, even though it's better economically for the long-term. It's ironic that the country run by a Communist Party isn't afraid to embrace innovation like the US is afraid.