A major problem with our country is that people lack chutzpah. At least the high IQ people don’t have enough of it. 
Innovation at scale requires gall, not just bookish intelligence.
And the main reason I believe is people have too much respect for tradition, authority and elders. 
Stop touching the feet of your elders, disobey, do your thing, disrupt, fuck up massively.
The age based hierarchy needs to be completely dismantled. We need a few martyrs who are not afraid of disappointing their families.