I still think that USA population are in very large % of stupidity. I mean come on one guy was asking in USA some people that name some country with first letter U (USA) and a lot of people didn't know. But beside that there is still a lot of stupid action.

If some guy from USA reads this please it was not meant for everyone I only said large % not all people.

It makes me proud to be an American.

"Furthermore, three-fourths of the world’s Top 40 Universities are in the United"
"The country outspends the world in research and development and employs most of the world’s Nobel Prize winners. "

erm..more money? Did I mention more money? And another thing - more money.

At a time when so many seem to hate the USA, it is good to hear that we leed in something that is good. :)

I agree with RAND. Top research scientists and science graduates should be allowed to stay indefinitely, as long as they are vetted for any terrorist activities or connection to foreign spy agencies. I understand the Chinese are copying every American innovation they can obtain. At the rate they're going, they'll equal the American standard of living within 10 years.

As for the H1-B visa IT workers, they should also be allowed to stay, on the condition they receive pay EQUAL to American workers. This is a very simple solution and a new law should be written guaranteeing equal pay.

So many doom and gloom people out there that think the country is going down the tubes in every concievable manner just because they dont like our president and gas prices are too high. Desperately failing to see the whole picture.

A perception forced reality.

Reduction in visas only hurts the US. How do you make sure you keep ahead of the competition? Take all their best and brightest!

Being on an H1-B is no picnic for the visa holder. If the boss is a tyrant, you can't leave the company without going back home.

Studies similar to the example you mentioned are carried out all the time, and the result here in the UK are not exactly encouraging either. I am not American, but I think it's foolish to make such generalisations about the American populace. They may be many things, but they are certainly not 'stupid'...

At the same time, I think we have to take this with a pinch of salt. America has always chucked large amounts of money into science and technology, and rightly so. America has plenty of money to throw at it, and plenty to gain from it. This shouldnt come as a surprise from a western country so large and wealthy.
As a result, with a country like the USA, one would be surprised NOT to see a large amount of their universities in the top 40. The universities are large, well funded, and in a prime position to work with large companies and businesses. Similarly with the large amount of Nobel Prize winners - the reason again here is the money. Funding/support for research and/or other employment oppurtunities is a big draw.

"To maintain this scientific edge, the study recommends that highly skilled foreign scientists and workers be allowed to visit and stay in the United States."
And thus my second point is: this study in my opinion says very little about the American education system or the general intelligence of the American populace. It seems to in fact suggest that much of the reason for the huge sucess in science and technology is due to foreign students and intellectuals working/moving to the USA, and not neccessarily those produced by the USA itself. Take from that what you will, but essentially the study is saying that attracting foreign students is vital to maintaining America's lead here.

It is not a "perception forced reality" for the people that do not have jobs. Anyways, to tie this in with economic woes; higher education budgets are often one of the first things to be slashed in state budgets during a recession.

There are dumb people everywhere. Read or watch some foreign news from non censored countries (Europe and Japan) and you will hear and read the same crap.

News reporters love to put dumb people on camera or in quotes. It makes the news entertaining.

Giving jobs to foreigners - whether it is over seas or they come here - is not the answer. Encouraging those who are American citizens to train and go after these jobs will help America. Whether the jobs go over seas or they come here with work vista's, there will still be a loss of jobs for Americans.

One quick point: we elected George W. Bush not once, but twice (!)...that kind of counters your claim that Americans aren't stupid, doesn't it? Generalizing is a dangerous proposition, but us Americans will probably never live that fact down.

Ha ha! Well... You said it, not me!

I don't think its that simple though, stupidity may indeed be a big factor, but I find that (maybe naively) difficult to believe. I think the problem is more ignorance, and also the way the media in the US works. Here for instance, Fox News is widely regarded as utter crap - I dread to think people consider it reliable news!
Of course, having never even been to the USA, I could be completely wrong :)