I think people fail to realize why this country has fallen behind in technological and intellectual leadership: our education is severely lacking. Students need to be educated earlier, stay in school longer throughout the year, and, most of all, have a learning atmosphere at home. Without these things in place, the US will continue its downward trend in global leadership. Unfortunately, we are an "instant gratification" society, and neglect to put measures in place to achieve long term goals. Bolstering early childhood education only serves to help us achieve the long term goal of again becoming a financially, technologically, and intellectually superior nation.