■"Inventing Our Evolution: We're almost able to build better human beings. But are we ready?" by Joel Garreau, Washington Post, 16 May 2005, p. A1.

China and India will dominate the industrial and IT manufacturing marketplace with all their cheap labor, so America must become a 2nd-class economic power.

Don't believe any of it.

We'll move on to the next economic and technological frontiers. The New Core will build stuff for the world as we know it, but America will move on to the world as it will be. The voyage within will dominate technology in coming decades, as we explore and exploit a host of technologies designed to alter human life and extend its useful length.

Of course, some will turn this into yet another fearful notion, decrying "Frankenstein" this or that, and speaking of how this will leave America-yet again!-far more vulnerable to new forms of warfare and yadda-yadda. But none of these fears will be realized as we move to the next mountain top. Yes, political and ethical and moral and economic and environmental and security challenges will be confronted, and yes we'll change the world in the process, but this reach-ahead will prove to be as liberating and as positive as every other stretching action this country has ever undertaken.

Still, plan on your retirement funds to support you through 125 years of age, just to be on the safe side. It's been my operating theory in investing for 15 years now.