[Jack Hydrazine]

Manufacturing is the key to wealth creation for any nation. The USA has been exporting its manufacturing overseas since the end WWII with the rise government sprawl (bureaucrats and their onerous regs) along with confiscatory taxes. During this time numerous accounting tricks have been used to give the appearance that America is still a wealthy nation while its wealth has been drained dry both in monetary terms as well as spiritual terms.

[dennisw]

Manufacturing is the key to wealth creation for any nation. The USA has been exporting its manufacturing overseas since the end WWII with the rise government sprawl (bureaucrats and their onerous regs) along with confiscator taxes. During this time numerous accounting tricks have been used to give the appearance that America is still a wealthy nation while its wealth has been drained dry both in monetary terms as well as spiritual terms.

Germany and Japan know this. In fact in some ways Germany is a larger exporter of manufactured goods than Japan which surprised me. Foreigners want to buy what the Germans are cranking out be it chemicals or hi-tech items
Real wealth comes in three different ways

1. mining
2. agriculture
3. manufacturing
4. software (a modern addition to the classic three above)