How does a Wikipedia page improve my life and why do I have to dig into it rather than seeing these innovations around me first hand? As for Russia, remember you are talking to a Russian. Sure Pushkin was pretty good, in early 19th century. What good did you see coming out of Russia in 21st century, which we are almost a quarter into? Lots of things being invented in US suggest that US circumstances are pretty good for inventing and bringing inventions to mass use.