Manufactuing offers the ability for those without skills and education to earn a reasonable salary. All that is required is good hard work. The work done in the manufacturing sector adds more to the value of the product than say, flipping a burger.
When we lose our manufacturing base, we cut the first rung off of the upward mobility ladder.
The problem is that most here keep blaming free trade when they should be blaming the real cause of the above problem. Bad government policies which make it unprofitable or less profitable to do business at home. Blame the coersion of government and their bastard child, labor unions.
Well, you can thank your government for taking the ability of unskilled workers to earn a living, by having a minimum wage.
However, having less unskilled labor jobs will motivate those unskilled workers to become skilled and get educated, thus raising our standards.