Well, that rather goes to the core of the problem. And I'd note it's far more than the government contracts: it is the flood of WWII and Vietnam vets who took degrees from the GI bill; it's the education system that this nation built up; it's the industry and work ethic of the people that built the economy that made IBM possible.
But these days, our system is set up to reward those who maximize profit. Outsourcing, layoffs and liquidations are rewarded with bonuses to those who do those thing. Destroying industry, infrastructure and innovation are seen as worthy goals, not as things to be avoided. It's all about short term gain, not about long term sustainability. Throw in the fact that we're destroying our education system, and things look pretty grim.
Unless you change these things, the guy who took the date to the dance is going to find her in the proverbial back alley working tricks every time.