Nobody here is arguing that jobs lost through productivity and technology are the problem. Actually they are a great thing. But, rather the wholesale transfer of entire industries (think furniture) overseas, particularly to China.
Manufacturing had been (and still is in isolated pockets) the ticket to the middle class in America. Currently however we have a government that sets disincentives to produce in this country and sets incentives to produce overseas -that is the problem.
The problems can be further distilled down to our disastrous relationship with the Chinese and the fact that the Bush admin seems to be willing to do nothing more than send a cabinet official over every few months to complain into the wind.
""Manufacturing had been (and still is in isolated pockets) the ticket to the middle class in America.""
that is no longer the case and hasnt been since about 1978. an education is.