Replies

(remember the 4.6% unemployment rate?)

Not really. Here in (formerly) manufacturing country, employment has sucked for some time. Many of the displaced workers had jobs, but the jobs paid dirt and those people weren't buying things except on credit. So our downtowns and small businesses have really been struggling for some time now.

Outsourcing has not failed, China and India are finally flexing some financial muscle, and have billions of people for a work force. It is only natural for labor intensive manufacturing to migrate to the lower labor costs.

Outsourcing our way to prosperity has certainly failed. I'd rather pay a bit more for a shirt made here so that my neighbor can have a job and can also buy things that I might be selling.

Instead, almost everything one can buy is being manufactured in a communist dictatorship of some sort. The fuel in my gas tank is imported. The electronics in my radio are imported. Nearly everything I wear is imported.

We have to rethink our "cheap stuff" strategy if we care about where our nation is going.

Here in (formerly) manufacturing country, employment has sucked for some time. Many of the displaced workers had jobs, but the jobs paid dirt and those people weren't buying things except on credit.

So? Move where jobs are, don't wallow in the rust belt (or where ever).

I'd rather pay a bit more for a shirt made here so that my neighbor can have a job

I tried as a manager of a wholesale firm to sell a "made in America" line of products (over a three year period in the late 90's). No one gave a damn, wouldn't pay 5% extra for American made. Thats reality in the USA. Money talks, bs walks. You just want the government to provide you with a job by closing our markets, regardless of the cost to our standard of living.

There is just as much stuff you buy that is made in America if you think about it. Actually, the fuel in your tank is made in America....the raw material (oil) is imported.