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Originally Posted by pan6467
And exactly how is my post above in any way class warfare?
I believe this to be what the Dems will (if they aren't starting to in full) conclude and try doing.
Clinton knew this and that is why we boomed. The problem with that boom, was that it was a growing industry (the dotcoms) but was very secluded in who made money. It didn't truly expand and move.
We need a true growth industry that will actually move society forward.
As much as it is downplayed the only sector that will keep creating jobs, keep moving forward is manufacturing. It is the only sector that can grow, employ and keep wages on a rising scale, while maintaining growth in jobs.
As long as we keep downplaying it, letting it leave and not building it up, we will be on this spiral downward and while those at the top may not see it or believe it affects them, it will. It starts hitting from the bottom up, picking up speed along the way and it's getting to the top fast and when it does it will be more extreme than when it started.
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I agree with you Pan that we need to continue to grow but I'm not sure I agree with you that it needs to be in manufacturing.
I am convinced that the age of manufacturing (industrial) is pretty much dead in this country (the US) which isn't necessarily a bad thing. We are shifting/shifted to more information age. So I would expect that our services industry would expand - banking, insurance, consulting, management etc. These are high value-added industries and great for our economy (as far as I can tell).
Ideally, I would like to see former manufacturing laborers be able to shift with the times as well - i.e. get new training education etc and adjust accordingly. Those jobs to China et al are not coming back and I don't think that's too bad. Even in China, they are starting to shift production overseas. They got it - they are outsourcing now to places like Vietnam, Africa etc.
The problem with our manufacturing base (as we have discussed in other threads) is the rising costs due to the need for higher wages and uncompetitive nature with other firms. Perhaps we can transition our manufacturing industries more smoothly so as not to "shock" the system. EX: Ford is dying. As a company they really suck (my opinion). I would love to but a Ford but the product is shoddy and overpriced. Maybe Ford can take a page out of the Japanese with their innovative plants and better R&D. In this case, there will have to be compromise. To keep a competitive or living wage, something will have to be cut. So your options may be, reduce 25,000 to 10,000 while updating/automating the plants. The savings in costs will make the company more competitive. Simultaneously, the skilled labor required to operate the new plants maybe should result in a higher pay scale? So higher pay for the remaining workers, but overall savings for the company by reducing in other areas. I don't know, something like that?