Again, there is much more to the electronics industry than mass market consumer electronics, though of course that WAS a very big part, and, obviously, the visible part to you. High end electronics are alive and reasonably well, considering the economy, whether for military or even for home stereo. In terms of the latter, I give you, as an example, Martin-Logan, whom any real audiophile knows of as a successful and respected company. As for the former I give you Texas Instruments - sure, if you buy a $20 TI calculator, it’s probably made in Malaysia or someplace like that. But, in terms of National Security, TI’s consumer products are minimally relevant: The concern is whether or not TI can reliably supply those neat circuits that allow our missiles to, for example, recognize an enemy ship as an exact type and adjust it (the missile’s) attack for optimum (”incoming!”) direction, angle, and velocity.
Indeed, that part of the electronics industry I was in has basically “had it”. So has that part which made manual telephone switchboards. Should the gov’t have bailed out the latter? Or should it have provided fertile ground for the companies making the replacements to make them here?
(I must decline to say exactly where I worked however - they are still in business, if only minimally, and spreading around the bad news about their situation only increases the odds against their being able to transform into something new that can succeed.)
I guess we’ll just have to disagree on military production equipment. The “big 3” going into bankruptcy is not going to effect significantly items like guns, missiles, planes, ships, etc. I don’t even think it would affect military vehicles much, but, if it does, I am not saying outsource ‘em - let Toyota (for example) build the basic vehicle (for example) HERE, and some other U.S. company can follow up and do the “aftermarket” work, if really high tech is involved. (When it comes to basic vehicle technology itself, Toyota, Honda, etc., are probably at least equal to Detroit.) But, more likely, some remnant of “Detroit”, if it even comes to that*, could surely carry on with what I am sure is a lucrative business.
I just don’t think it will come to that. Bankruptcy is NOT going to vaporize, say, GM. Damage, perhaps, esp. short term. Change and reorganization, certainly. (or certainly I’d hope so.)
I wish all industry well and believe Washington has kicked your industry in the teeth and left you guys to fail in so many ways, but I have to tell you. In this environment;bankruptcy means liquidation. I think the number of unemployed people would devastate this economy-maybe even cause a depression.