Why are we falling so far behind in science?

Follow the money. We have the most powerful military in the world - by far. We spend nearly 50% of the discretionary budget on weapons and warfare - and more than the next 10 countries combined. We spend tiddly-winks on education, science, research and technology (in comparison). We've chosen to be physically strong instead of mentally strong. We are far out of balance.

well, when states like texas allow schools to teach creationism over actually you know real science, this happens.

Does anyone remember when the Soviets launched Sputnik?
This country went on a science education and RD spending spree.
Completely powered by tax-payer money!
And the technological and economic advantages that the US citizens reaped were incredible!
And then we got stingy.

Here's a decent explanation:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text

There's definitely an anti science movement occurring now; the question is how long it's going to last. Right now, the biggest problem is in funding basic research.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-the-funding-decline-in-basic-research-20150428-column.html

When 42% of Americans believe in creationism, a young earth, a great flood, and intelligent design we are only SLIGHTLY smarter than the lions share of a billion muslims. Many of those billion believe the same nonsense w/ the addition that mohammed took a redeye flight to heave on a flying horse. The evangelicals and moslems try to make fairytales reconsile with evidence based measured observations. Duh.

SSgt Alex Robinson I dunno. We're about fund tens of thousands of Syrian refugees rather than fix our own house. You tell me.

There is a lot of reasons. In addition to CPT L S comments we have a society that has denigrated the sciences as a whole. We portray anyone who wants to pursue STEM as being egg heads an nerds. We applaud and encourage kids today to shoot for unrealistic goals like becoming a pro sports player. We give more credence to buffoons instead of people doing science and engineering.

However it's not all lost. What the society has failed to do the individuals now have access to a knowledge base like never before. We have things like the Maker movement where average people are learning how to code microprocessors like the Arduino and making various contraptions where only the mind is the limit. Hopefully this will be the basis that sets the stage that there is more you can do with your life than strive to be the next idol, or sports star.

Because, religion.

Not justifying being stupid but who here uses Avogadro's number on a daily basis. The truth is no one uses these sciences routinely enough to stay mentally sharp. However after taking the test and getting 12 out of 12 - oh boy America - pick up a science book once in awhile.

However as a valid survey the sample size for the adult US population needs to be around 956,010 with 95% confidence level +/- 10%. With the current sample size its +/- 43%. Looks like we're not good at stats either.

Something I've noticed. Many of the science majors from the local university go on to work in sales instead of R&D. To each his own, but to me, seems like a waste of a science degree no?