I don't understand the theory. If 6 of the top 10 brands are US companies, how has the US lost its edge. The fact is, we are still in the American Age and will be for as long as the US remains the easiest place to start and grow a business. Europeans, Asians, et al, feel free to chime in and regale us of how easy it is to start a company in your countries. It is a proven fact that Europe and the rest of the parlimentarian world refuses to do this and thus will never overtake America. China and India are the unknown factors but only because of sheer numbers and not because of better practices. Eventually, they may catch us but they will never match us in terms of sheer per capita productivity as long as the US offers (and delivers) the promise of greater rewards for being sucessful. The only problem in the US will come if we capitulate and give in to the "nanny-state" idea that the economic playing field must be the same for all (productive and successful or not). If that happens, then we have BIG problems - and I'll be moving somewhere else.