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The nature of the job market is dynamic. That is a good thing, not a bad thing. Refineries are a nasty business. It is good to get rid of them. There are such a thing as high skilled barbers etc by the way. Mine charges 20 bucks, and she is worth it. Plus we talk politics. She is a hopeless right winger, but fun. In any event, the macro statistics of unemployement, per capita income, median income, etc in the US simply don't support your case on a macro level. Indeed, they refute it, totally. Production is simply hugely more efficient than it was, and I have seen it with my own eyes in my lifetime. Just think of those scanners at supermarkets. Not only is the checkout quicker and more accurate, but inventory control is expotentially more efficient and less wasteful. And so it goes.

One of the things I have openly proposed here on FR (as a 1st generation theory) is as follows:

1.)Raise the holy hell out of general tarriffs on goods. Triple them at least across the board.

2.)Second, at the same time that happens sign several free trade agreements around the globe with allies, friends, and those we can most easily develop into a strong middle class. Those FTAs will exempt those countries from #1 above.

This approach will cause these nations to get the bulk of investment and be the best option for overseas/foreign development. It will focus our resources like a lazerbeam on development. It will funnel resources to the best places for it.

It will have all the same perks, bells, and whistles as any other outsourcing. (cost cutting etc)

FTAs too by the way allow our corporations to have access to the market(s) we create. All those artificial barriers will be gone.

We export 75 cents to Mexico for every dollar we import from Mexico. With China we barely get 15 cents on the dollar.

Yet we have corporation after corporation leaving Mexico even to go to China. In the big picture, considering all things, I would think creating a trade cartel would be a good option.

As time goes on, we can control our exposure and entrance into places like China. Sure beats a bubble...like we are setting ourselves up for now. Now everyone is rushing to the lowest on the toem pole for as much labor as possible. My plan would remove barriers (as long as you stay in the family) but also put a floor on labor pricing. Net result for costs=zero difference.

We have to invest in the whole picture, not just plink one key on the piano over and over.

But what will happen to all the people who have no jobs due to companies moving overseas, and with the new technologies that do the jobs people used to do? How do people continue making a living?

I'm glad for your barber. I wonder if she has seen the same thing coming, although I guess it depends on where you live. It's worse in Houston because of the many illegals there and all the legal immigrants who are willing to work for very little.