Not doomed, but the growth potential for individuals is becoming more and more limited every year.
Manufacturing creates WEALTH... when a manufacturing job is lost, its not just that job that get cut, there are 3.5 additional jobs that that one manufacturing job supported that also go away.
Service industry only generates 1.6 jobs for every direct job. (And what’s 1.6 x 2?) Just about 3.5... which is exactly why in todays america in general it takes 2 incomes to equal the inflation adjusted income of what your father alone could provide for your family 30 years ago.
That’s the facts, the free trade worshipers will try to spin it otherwise, but its the facts.
The real reason we need two jobs is because Americans consume too much. We need the newest car loaded with features, the biggest house we can afford, all the new gadgets, 250-cable channels with high speed internet, 50 new toys for each child, etc. Someone who lives within their means could live nicely off of one income. I am as guilty of this as the typical American, but it is the truth.