Washington: In highly connected and
competitive world, US is competing with fast developing
economies like India, China and Brazil, President Barack Obama
said as he asked state Governors to gear up to meet the
challenge and maintain America`s leadership stature.
"We now live in a world that`s more connected and more
competitive than ever before. When each of you tries to bring
new jobs and industries to your state, you`re not just
competing with each other but you`re competing with China,
you`re competing with India, you`re competing with Brazil,
you`re competing with countries all around the world," Obama
said in his address to the National Governors` Association.
The US needs to make sure that it is the best place on
earth to do business, he said. "We need a skilled and educated
workforce, a commitment to cutting-edge research and
technology, and a fast and reliable transportation and
communications network. That`s how we`re going to bring new
jobs to America, and that`s how we`re going to win the
future."
"Making these necessary investments would be hard at
any time. But it`s that much harder at a time when resources
are scarce. After living through a decade of deficits and a
historic recession that made them worse, we can`t afford to
kick the can down the road any longer," Obama said.
Vice President Joe Biden also had the same views. He
said that while US is still ahead of these countries, many
Americans believe that they have already lost the race to
India, China and Brazil.
"I know you all know, but sometimes our constituents,
you look at some of the polling, they think we`ve already lost
the future to China. They think we`ve already lost the future
to India. They already think we are behind the eight ball,"
Biden said.
"We are still better positioned than any country in
the world -- any country in the world -- to own the 21st
century economically. Our GDP is bigger than that of China,
Japan and Germany combined," he asserted.
"We`re in a situation where, here in the United States
of America, the median income is close to USD 50,000. In
China, it`s USD 4,500. We wish them better," he said.
Biden said if Americans take right steps than they
have "overwhelming prospect -- an overwhelming prospect -- of
not only recovering here in the United States but leading the
world in the 21st century."
"We may have a different prioritization, but we all
know we have to do something about the long-term debt. We all
know that we have to do something about preparing ourselves to
compete in the future in terms of education, innovation and
infrastructure," he added.
PTI
