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Not even the Japanese eclipse us there.

Whoa man! Where you been?

Until 1990, I was in the Steel foundry and machining business. The japs destroyed us by innovations that I cannot even begin to list.

You would think that with the shipping costs from Japan, that we would have had some sort of edge, but no way.

They put the foundry finishing process on ships and finished the product as they transported it. It was amazing what they did!

In order to maintain our manufacturing, we must do likewise. Some have and survived, but those who do not are going.

Innovation has always been the key to survival.

It is possible that we are too stupid to innovate any longer. I sure hope the hell not, but it looks that way.

188 - "Until 1990, I was in the Steel foundry and machining business. The japs destroyed us by innovations that I cannot even begin to list."

You are/were correct - our steel industry died, deservedly, in the 80's. I know, I was buying hundreds of thousands of tons in the 80's.

However, you probably got out, due to a lack of a job, due to the new much smaller, more efficient US plants being built, using new and better technology in the 90's.

Visit Pennsyvania, and you will see that the sky is now blue (instead of dull grey) and the ancient, hulking giants along the rivers of western pennsylvania are lying dead and dormant.