[freeandfreezing]

It was a strategically bad idea for US manufacturers to move production and ultimately design of so many products out of our nation. Manufacturing provided opportunities for many people in our nation to move away from poverty. One of the reasons that there is decay and poverty in cities like Detroit, Flint, Toledo, and Gary Indiana is the loss of manufacturing jobs in those cities. The mismanagement by Democratic politicians didn't help either.

It seems like we finally have a political leader who realizes that manufacturing and business opportunities for Americans matter to our nation.

As you noted the social/political policies of LBJ and others that weakened families also helped create more poverty here.

[NorseViking]

Generally speaking current US policy is to try to keep Russia and China trapped in a so-called ‘Middle income trap’.
For Russia the program is active for about 15 years and for China has just started.
I might understand why it is getting done to China because the latter abused US economy for so long but it is worth mentioning that all of it happened under invitation from US and now such a cold shower. It might produce some really bad blood with a billion people who are mostly pro-American despite their regime.
As for Russia I have no idea what justifies the policy. It is not on recent history when it did something wrong to US or took advantage of it.

[central_va]

Very astute post.