A second take on my previous entry. I do think there is a natural inclination in any society. This inclination, or propensity, greatly effects how innovation is adapted. This propensity, though, is malleable by the moral and intellectual forces within the society.
How cultural propensity impacts innovation can currently be seen in our attitudes towards alternative energy. Technically, and economically, alternative energies are ready for mainstream use in the United States. With proper support we could be oil free in a generation.
The problem is that currently our country has a propensity towards oil and coal. The reasons for this vary from Big Oil propaganda, and lack of government will (no new taxes), to an almost moralistic distrust by some of any new energy technology.
Alternative energies will never take hold in the U.S. until this propensity towards oil is lessened and we gain a greater emotional acceptance of alternative energy.
edited: 21DEC11
