Much of the rust belt is economically dead.
Japanese and European manufacturers who do set up factories in the US avoid the high cost states with aggressive unions. Thus these states get no new jobs and are losing their old jobs.
Companies with high costs of production ( including expensive union contracts ) will fail.
We consumers are smart enough to want a reasonable price.
The Rust Belt is nothing new.. I remember hearing about the Rust Belt in 80's ... Until the Midwest shape up.. More jobs and people are going to be moving out the Midwest..