GLOBAL COMPETITION

Those attending the daylong Oregon Leadership Summit in Portland last month heard the phrase "global competition" frequently. While the phrase can sound terribly abstract, it really isn't. Boiled down, it amounts to this: What kind of jobs are our kids going to have in the future?

A lot of us don't want to admit that the longstanding U.S. lead in science and technology could be slipping as other countries nip at our heels. A lot of us don't want to admit that if we fail to take action soon, our children will face diminished job prospects and declining standards of living.

Some argue that the U.S. economy is the leader of the world because it possesses qualities that our global competitors can't copy. They argue that our culture is unique in promoting risk-taking, entrepreneurship and a pioneering spirit that embraces innovation.

Twenty years ago this may have been true. With more than half the world living under command-and-control economies that scorned free markets, the United States led the world in innovations by a large margin.

But the world has changed. Chinese companies are taking a page from America's playbook and offering stock options. Indian nationals are returning to their country to start their own companies. And Central and Eastern Europe houses some of the brightest individuals on the planet.

After a long period of U.S. dominance, these other countries are adopting the American blueprint for growth and prosperity. While they are moving ahead, we've been neglecting our own blueprint for at least 15 years.

The United States achieved its historic lead for very specific reasons. We invested in a skilled work force by educating our kids in math and science and by welcoming, not shunning, skilled talent from around the world. We recognized that investment in research and development is critical in promoting new technologies. And we understood that innovation -- the open acceptance of change and new ideas -- is what fuels our economy.

Americans often need a crisis to get us to act. Today, we are acting like the proverbial frog in the pot of water, oblivious to the slowly rising temperature. When the Soviets shocked the world by launching Sputnik in 1957, it was more like the United States was thrown into a pot of boiling water -- and we quickly reacted. We need to do that again. Even if the crisis is less visible, it is no less real.

Business and community leaders and parents have a special role to play. We need to understand what's changing in the world and take actions to adapt. We need greater investments in basic research, better math and science education for our kids, a deeper understanding of geography and languages for all.

If we resist change, our nation and our kids will fall behind. If we embrace change and take bold actions, our kids will be ready to compete with anyone on the planet.

The choice is ours.

Robert DeKoning is CEO of Routeware and is chairman of the Oregon Council of the American Electronics Association.