This is a title of a new book by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. I think I'll buy it when my book budget shows a surplus.
You can read an excerpt at http://www.npr.org/books/titles/140211680/that-used-to-be-us-how-america-fell-behind-in-the-world-it-invented-and-how-we-c?tab=excerpt#excerpt. Our infra-structure is falling apart while China's is building up at great efficiency.
You can listen to an interview with Thomas Friedman at http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140214150/thomas-friedman-on-how-america-fell-behind.
All three copies in the Duluth MN Public Library are out.
