The unstated irony is that there’s a large overlap in the anti-immigration and re-industrialization crowd.

I think an interesting part of 20th century American industrial/scientific history is that many of the prominent figures were European immigrants (many Jewish) or children of immigrants.

Maybe there is something exceptional about the environment itself. But the talented and privileged native citizens rarely aspire to be an innovator; they dream of being a leader or strategic thinker or mover of capital.

That’s why I think hard math is so marginalized even in elite circles (“I’ve never been good at math”). Technical work is essentially blue collar to the upper middle class. Many of my peers are in this group, and the only time they were ever interested in math or programming, was due to its possibility as a conduit to a more prestigious position.

This attitude is directly ingrained in undergrad institutions. They focus on general knowledge to serve as a justification to skip over front line work to become a leader (military officer, factory manager, investment banker).

There are excellent American technicians no doubt but most of them don’t fit the typical WASP mold or are predisposed to obsessing over systemic topics (which describes myself, being ADHD, although I can only strive to be excellent).

And the upper class? They have never aspired to much of anything really other than hedonism and protecting their position of status. At least in other countries, the upper class ideal is a renaissance man.

Edit: some of these assertions are sweeping and maybe a little mean. But I do think the thesis is directionally correct. America will need to change the culture around education to succeed in the 21st century. Immigration has and will continue to be a boon; but we have to accept the possibility that America could become a less desirable immigration target

I have to imagine these countries are going to begin limiting or restricting this type of emigration as a nation's people is its biggest asset. Brain draining the world without reciprocity is the greatest foreign policy we've had.

Unfortunately?

Well-trained people showing up by themselves is a huge advantage.