These companies should have to pay a tariff to have access to US markets. I am protectionist Bob. Like the founders, I believe in US manufacturing and it should be done here, even if the management is bad and even if they have union workers.
Off shoring helps the stock holders and the corporate bottom line. It does nothing for the consumer because that reduced manufacturing cost is not passed on to the consumer. The big loser is the taxpayer that has to shoulder the burden an idled workforce.
We’re not that far apart...I’m just looking at the blowback of trying to bring back manufacturing by simply closing borders. There are way too many impediments to producing affordable items in this country, and unions are a big part, a huge part.
...and so are EPA regulations. I’ve been to China, I know EXACTLY why we have clean air and cheap products - we sent all our pollution there (believe me it unreal, much, much worse and widespread than Los Angeles ever was) and the manufacturing that creates it. We better be ready for some increased pollution if we want those plants back, or we will PAY THROUGH THE TEETH, that is the flip side to imposing trade barriers without taking steps to make manufacturing economical again here. We don’t need people dropping in the streets due to pollution (like they’re almost doing in China now), but we better be ready to loosen up a bit.