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State of the Union: is Obama our economic Tiger President? State of the Union: is Obama our economic Tiger President?
(7 months later)
It is a trait of perfectionist, immigrant Tiger Mothers, as Amy Chua controversially says, to drag better performance out of their offspring by comparing them unfavorably with their peers. That drives achievement but results in low self-esteem, she claims.It is a trait of perfectionist, immigrant Tiger Mothers, as Amy Chua controversially says, to drag better performance out of their offspring by comparing them unfavorably with their peers. That drives achievement but results in low self-esteem, she claims.
Is Obama our Tiger President? Is Obama our Tiger President? Every year, the stage-mother-in-chief mentions some foreign country that's beating us economically, to send a competitive frisson through our collective ranks. Who are the good guys and the bad guys? Who's better looking and smarter than us? Here are some highlights.
Every year, the stage-mother-in-chief mentions some foreign country that's beating us economically, to send a competitive frisson through our collective ranks. Who are the good guys and the bad guys? Who's better looking and smarter than us?
Here are some highlights.
2009: America is chatty, but doesn't focus on its studies2009: America is chatty, but doesn't focus on its studies
Obama chides that the US, just coming out of a recession, should be alarmed by China, Germany, Japan and even Korea beating us on clean energy.Obama chides that the US, just coming out of a recession, should be alarmed by China, Germany, Japan and even Korea beating us on clean energy.
"We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea." "We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea."
2010: America falling further behind more countries economically2010: America falling further behind more countries economically
Not only is the US still behind China and Germany, but we're even behind bumbling Europe, which that year is in the throes of a crisis, and we've fallen behind India too. "There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products." Not only is the US still behind China and Germany, but we're even behind bumbling Europe, which that year is in the throes of a crisis, and we've fallen behind India too. "There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products." That sounds like bad news. What are we fighting back with, Mr President? Our national pride lay in an unlikely place that year. "Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our nation's goods, services, and information." Brutal, but at least we have Tampa, right? But wait, the flogging is not over. A neat train in Tampa will not excuse America's laziness. "I have one simple question: how long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold? You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China is not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany is not waiting. India is not waiting. These nations – they're not standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They're making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs. Well, I do not accept second place for the United States of America."
That sounds like bad news. What are we fighting back with, Mr President? Our national pride lay in an unlikely place that year.
"Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our nation's goods, services, and information."
Brutal, but at least we have Tampa, right? But wait, the flogging is not over. A neat train in Tampa will not excuse America's laziness.
"I have one simple question: how long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold? You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China is not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany is not waiting. India is not waiting. These nations – they're not standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They're making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs. Well, I do not accept second place for the United States of America."
You heard the Tiger President. Go back to your room and study, America. Come back in 2011 with your game face on.You heard the Tiger President. Go back to your room and study, America. Come back in 2011 with your game face on.
2011: America blows its chance at redemption2011: America blows its chance at redemption
It's 2011! Let's see your homework, America. What have you got to show for your economic competition? It's 2011! Let's see your homework, America. What have you got to show for your economic competition? It turns out, America is the back-of-the-classroom slacker of economies. Not only are we still not as good as China, and Europe, and India and Korea, as the President mentioned in all those previous years, but we're also behind Russia. RUSSIA. This is like Rocky IV all over again.
It turns out, America is the back-of-the-classroom slacker of economies. Not only are we still not as good as China, and Europe, and India and Korea, as the President mentioned in all those previous years, but we're also behind Russia. RUSSIA. This is like Rocky IV all over again.
"Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They’re investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world’s largest private solar research facility, and the world’s fastest computer.""Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They’re investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world’s largest private solar research facility, and the world’s fastest computer."
"Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a 'D.'"Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a 'D.'
"We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp.""We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp."
That infrastructure grade of 'D' just hangs tensely in the air. Until next year.That infrastructure grade of 'D' just hangs tensely in the air. Until next year.
2012: Time for vengeance2012: Time for vengeance
At this point, the president has become sick of browbeating America about falling behind China. It's time to take action. Some good cop-bad cop action. At this point, the president has become sick of browbeating America about falling behind China. It's time to take action. Some good cop-bad cop action. In 2012, Obama lavished praise on a few countries for buying American stuff and helping the US get closer to its goal of doubling exports: "Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago." All of those countries are good, the president implied, compared to trade villain China. (And Iran, against whom the president pursued some very effective sanctions). Obama announced a Trade Enforcement Unit to crack down on China's trade imbalance with the US and the country's thriving cottage industry in faking US products: "I will go anywhere in the world to open up new markets for American products. I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration – and it’s made a difference. Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.
In 2012, Obama lavished praise on a few countries for buying American stuff and helping the US get closer to its goal of doubling exports: "Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago."
All of those countries are good, the president implied, compared to trade villain China. (And Iran, against whom the president pursued some very effective sanctions).
Obama announced a Trade Enforcement Unit to crack down on China's trade imbalance with the US and the country's thriving cottage industry in faking US products:
"I will go anywhere in the world to open up new markets for American products. I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration – and it’s made a difference. Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.
2013: I know you know. And you know that I know you know2013: I know you know. And you know that I know you know
Perhaps tired of telling us how we're falling behind every country on earth, the President focuses on two stalwarts: China and Germany. "Solar energy gets cheaper by the year – let’s drive down costs even further. As long as countries like China keep going all in on clean energy, so must we." "Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job. Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges. So those German kids, they're ready for a job when they graduate high school. They've been trained for the jobs that are there. " Who's next in 2014? We'll find out tonight.
Perhaps tired of telling us how we're falling behind every country on earth, the President focuses on two stalwarts: China and Germany.
"Solar energy gets cheaper by the year – let’s drive down costs even further. As long as countries like China keep going all in on clean energy, so must we."
"Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job. Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges. So those German kids, they're ready for a job when they graduate high school. They've been trained for the jobs that are there. "
Who's next in 2014? We'll find out tonight.