&gt; <i>Pretty feeble argument IMO.</i><p>I agree.<p>I want to stress however that there are many factors that drive innovation.  The military setup is one.  The economic system is another.  Education is yet another.  The mass media have substantial influence.  Even if it sucks on some fronts, it may be compensated elsewhere.<p>Simply put, even if our economic system and our education system thwarts innovation, that&#x27;s not enough to kill it.