The Myth Of Manufacturing’s Decline

Investors Business Daily ^ | JUNE 3, 2016 | Editorial

[expat_panama]

For the last two years, we’ve listened as presidential candidates promised repeatedly to “bring back manufacturing jobs.” But they really didn’t go anywhere. As the data show, manufacturing output is near its all-time high. Since 1980, factory output has grown 114%, while the number of factory jobs has shrunk by 36%, or nearly 7 million jobs total. It was technology and productivity, not China or any other nation, that “took” factory jobs.

[Colorado Doug]

I notice that the map has a great deal of manufacturing in Maine and none in West Virgina. The areas highlighted in Maine are harvested timber. Why does that resource harvesting count as manufacturing while coal harvesting in West Virginia does not?

it's because they created the map the same way they created all of their "facts" by using chicken crap.

[InterceptPoint]

That's been tanking for at least the last eight years. That's why the average American is so pissed!

++++

Here is the GDP per capita data. Generally speaking improvements in GDP per capita equate to a better average standard of living.

I suppose it could be different this time. We had a big setback in 2008-2009 but since then the GDP has been on the upswing. That despite the Dems working hard to suppress it with their never ending rules, regulations, taxes and fees.

[Colorado Doug]

an American factory that uses half of that steel to produce 20,000 precision scalpels worth $1,000 each. Then that company goes broke because nobody can sell a two dollar scalpel for a thousand. What's your point?

[Colorado Doug]

Generally speaking improvements in GDP per capita equate to a better average standard of living.

That may have once been true but have you priced healthcare or electricity lately?
We are in the obama economy now. Heck, we don't even know if the GDF numbers are real anymore, do we?

[Kay Ludlow]

Honestly, I'm all for free trade - we make a fair agreement, and both we and our trading partners abide by it. Problem is, most of our partners don't ever even try to abide by it, while we make exceptions for every campaign donor who whines to congress. I think renegotiating our trade deals, and enforcing them equally on ALL parties (with means that were part of the negotiations) would be great for everyone. Right now, besides making way to many exceptions for our manufacturers, our government couldn't care less about the rampant cheating going on by say China (pegging their currency to ours while denying that they are doing that), Japan (requiring a significant part of everything sold be domestic), Mexico (flat out denying licenses to operate for anyone who would compete at all with their domestic companies), etc.

[Pelham]

"Plummeting U.S. exports of recycled paper contributed to a 5.2 percent decline in overall U.S. exports during the first half of 2015, as lower-value commodities were hit by weak demand, a strong dollar and the lingering impact of West Coast port delays.

Recycled paper is the highest-volume U.S. containerized export"

http://www.joc.com/international-trade-news/trade-data/us-wastepaper-exports-plummet_20150820.html

[virgil]

So what are all of those “monkeys” going to do?

And what will those monkeys buy without employment?

[upcountryhorseman]

While it’s probably true much of manufacturing has been
taken over by robots(Computers); someone has to manufacture,
oversee and maintain the robots.

[FreedomNotSafety]

Steel making is still alive in the US with way more than enough capacity to arm ourselves. But my question remains who is the bigger threat to the steel industry; China who wishes to bankrupt themselves by selling below cost or the US gvernment who wishes to eliminate coal from this country?

You realize that if Hillary and 0 get their way it will be impossible to make steel in this country? The dims and the progs are trying to eliminate the middle class and they are doing it through tax and regulatory policies. China is a sympton and not a cause.

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[FreedomNotSafety]

Do you have a better set of facts? The US is a manufacturing powerhouse. It would be even greater freed from oppressive gvernment. With common sense energy, environmental, and tax laws we could have full well paying employment.

Everyday spent vilifying China instead of th Dims and the Progs is another day they have to finish destroying the hated middle class.

[FreedomNotSafety]

Well at least you now agree that out government is the problem. What is an onerous tariff? How much?

[servantboy777]

So I guess the thousands upon thousands of products in our stores from shoes to jackets, toasters to blenders, bbq pits to furniture, dishes to mattresses marked “Made in China” are really not made in China?

I'm so confused.

[expat_panama]

nobody can sell a two dollar scalpel for a thousand.

Amazon's selling 'em for $1,200:

• 

Click to open expanded view

    

 

 

by Electron Microscopy Sciences

Meyco Diamond Dissecting Knife, Type M

 

Be the first to review this item

 

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Price:

$1,200.00 + $9.50 shipping

 

 

 

In stock.

 

Estimated Delivery Date: June 10 - 15 when you choose Expedited Shipping at checkout.

Ships from and sold by Electron Microscopy Sciences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Specifications for this item

Brand Name	Electron Microscopy Sciences
Part Number	72024
Number of Items	1
UNSPSC Code	42292701

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See more product details

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What's your point?

The scalpel's is diamond tipped but what we're talking about here is measuring industrial production in terms of the dollar value of the product.  Foreigners can make/sell/export steel for $50 per ton and American factories take just a little bit of that steel and make it into something that's worth a lot more.  This is just one of may ways that Americans have shown themselves to be exceptional:

Industry > Manufacturing output: Countries Compared

#	COUNTRY	AMOUNT
1	United States	2.31 trillion
2	European Union............................	2.09 trillion
3	Japan	1.65 trillion
4	China	1.45 trillion

180 more rows, 3 more columns

Countries Compared by Industry > Manufacturing output. International ...

www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Industry/Manufacturing-output

 

[central_va]

20%

[Colorado Doug]

But my question remains who is the bigger threat to the steel industry; China who wishes to bankrupt themselves by selling below cost or the US government who wishes to eliminate coal from this country?

No question about it. It's the US government that is by far the greatest threat to the people of the United States. We are in complete agreement there.

[central_va]

If we lose the know how the steel will never come back. We are de industrializing and losing our edge. This has to stop. Go Trump!

The USA can become a third world country on someone else's watch.

[Colorado Doug]

Amazon's selling 'em for $1,200

They may be advertising them but it appears that they are not actually selling them. No reviews! Most probably buy the ten-pack down below for six bucks apiece. I have my used keyboard for sale for $10,000. That doesn't mean I sold it.
But why are you citing a product manufactured by a Swiss company (Meyco), that's made from titanium and diamonds when we were talking about US manufacturing and steel?

[semimojo]

Recycled paper is the highest-volume U.S. containerized export

As your article noted recycled paper is very bulky and low value. It may fill lots of containers but doesn't really move the needle in terms of export value.

I've posted those numbers.

[dhs12345]

Yup. Sad. Some major power is going to kick our rears and it will be too late by the time we figure it out.