Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Presenting America's Own "Ghost Cities"
Zero Hedge ^ | 02/26/2016 | Tyler Durden

Posted on 02/27/2016 8:28:37 AM PST by Leaning Right

We’ve written quite a bit about the decline of America’s once proud manufacturing industry which is now but a shadow of its former self and long ago ceded its place in the public’s heart and mind to the service industry...And if it was already bad, it's getting worse.

(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: economy; ghostcities; manufacturing
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last
Interesting article, but to be taken with a grain of salt, as it's from the always-pessimistic Zero Hedge.

There is no doubt that US industry is in steep decline. But the author then goes on to argue that this decline is irreversible.

Comments?

1 posted on 02/27/2016 8:28:37 AM PST by Leaning Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

When I was a young man, they built big buildings, filled them with machines, called them factories, and made products for the world.

When I was middle aged, they built big buildings, filled them with products from around the world, called them warehouses, and sold the products to Americans.

Now that I’m an old man, they don’t even build big buildings anymore.


2 posted on 02/27/2016 8:31:36 AM PST by nascarnation (RIP Scalia. Godspeed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

The answer is in immigration. Newcomers can take over the blighted properties and do their own thing. It’s better than where they came from. No Muzzies please.


3 posted on 02/27/2016 8:36:19 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

Are you serious?


4 posted on 02/27/2016 8:47:21 AM PST by datura (Proud Infidel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation
Now that I’m an old man, they don’t even build big buildings anymore.

May you live a long life... and live to see those big buildings stuffed with people.

I'm feeling dystopian this morning.

5 posted on 02/27/2016 8:49:46 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

Yeah, I too am old. I live in Denver, Co. And they are building lots of big buildings: office towers, apartment buildings, and multi-purpose buildings. And I have heard that Athens, Ga. Is getting lots of new buildings as well. Should the rest of the peoples of planet Earth live in mud huts?


6 posted on 02/27/2016 8:50:20 AM PST by Trumpet 1 (US Constitution is my guide.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation
Now that I’m an old man ...all the empty factories and warehouses have been converted into senior citizen housing.
7 posted on 02/27/2016 8:53:43 AM PST by spokeshave (Somewhere there is a ceiling for Trump.....Yeah, it's called The Oval Office)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
This scene is repeated all over America.


8 posted on 02/27/2016 9:02:26 AM PST by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Trumpet 1

“Should the rest of the peoples of planet Earth live in mud huts?”

if the alternative is coming here, yes they should.


9 posted on 02/27/2016 9:14:42 AM PST by DesertRhino ("I want those feeble mined asses overthrown,,,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

Just yesterday someone was saying there are no places to eat in our downtown business section any more, even during work days. All the eating establishments have gone out of business with the exception of Micky D’s and Jack in the Box.


10 posted on 02/27/2016 9:24:28 AM PST by kaehurowing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
The only problem with this article is that American manufacturing output is up. Check Department of Commerce statistics. Unfortunately, American manufacturing employment is down. Reason: increased efficiency in manufacturing. That should be a cause for celebration. It should mean that prices are falling. That, however, is hidden by the Federal Reserve's policy of cheapening the dollar. Prices of American-made goods would be even higher except for the increased manufacturing efficiency.

Our problem is not that jobs are disappearing, but that new jobs are not being created. Taxes and regulations are stifling the creation of new jobs. Fix that and the problem will soon be shortage of workers.

11 posted on 02/27/2016 9:38:20 AM PST by JoeFromSidney (,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

Automation has had a huge impact on mfg. The redesign of products so that they were easier to manufacture was key to the survival of that sector.

Small mfg plants which ran 3 shifts at startup was another success. No more of the one swwwhift per day bs which was the rule when I started in that sector.


12 posted on 02/27/2016 10:12:32 AM PST by buffaloguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
n other words, no populist presidential candidate promising to “make the country great again” is going to turn this around - and it won't be for lack of effort. It's just economics. The jobs aren’t coming back from China and the “made in America” stamp is a relic a bygone era. The American economy is now a bartender and waiter creation machine and it's come at the expense of the still declining manufacturing sector.

Bologna. This is nothing but gloBULList Free Traitor™ talk. Forget tariffs, if you embargoed every manufactured good coming in the USA their would be decade of inflation and shortages for durable goods followed by centuries of prosperity.

13 posted on 02/27/2016 10:18:57 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: datura; DIRTYSECRET

I didn’t know Jeb was a freeper!


14 posted on 02/27/2016 10:19:57 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Trumpet 1

“Should the rest of the peoples of planet Earth live in mud huts?”

America is under no obligation of any kind to take anyone in. If you want to improve their lot get out your own checkbook.

L


15 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:28 AM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

If you built a large manufacturing facility 1/2 mile form that strip mall it would be bustling with secondary economic activity. This is the issue of our time.


16 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:54 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Trumpet 1
Should the rest of the peoples of planet Earth live in mud huts?

I am not a citizen of the world. I am a US citizen and my country comes first. Where and how the rest of the world lives is not our problem or concern.

17 posted on 02/27/2016 10:23:31 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: JoeFromSidney
Reason: increased efficiency in manufacturing.

OH and off shoring had nothing to do with it.


18 posted on 02/27/2016 10:25:21 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: central_va
I agree with you. There IS a path to bringing industry back to America. You'd just need a combination of temporary tariffs, lower domestic taxes, and less domestic regulation.

And one more thing. I believe in the concept of unions. But they've become way too powerful. We need rules to level that playing field again.

19 posted on 02/27/2016 10:26:17 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JoeFromSidney

So how great would the US economy be if we hadn’t closed 55,000 factories, shipped them over seas and dumped 12 million of your fellow Americans into the service economy over the last 15 years? A hell of a lot better.


20 posted on 02/27/2016 10:27:59 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson