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We don't need it. We're more of a service economy now not a factory led economy, and to be frank we don't need any more factories. If other country's laborers can assemble light fixtures assembly at a more efficient pace than the next country because of their comparative advantage, and we can produce financial analyst laborers very fast at a more effecient rate, than the previous country mention, because of our comparative advantage, then why are we having the conversation of keeping skilled blue collar jobs, ie. automobile parts facotry worker, in the united states? These jobs are becoming obsolete in our US economy and it's a good thing.
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One of our biggest advantages in WW II was the ability to quickly switch peace time manufacturing to production of the tools of war, I don't think I'd be quick to write off the skills and manufacturing capacity so easily.
Oh, yeah, we need millions and millions of financial analysts, accountants, engineers, attorneys, doctors, etc.
A nation of all Chiefs and professionals and no Indians or people that professionals serve.
Sure thing.
No need for farmers, truckers, stevedores, mechanics, craftsmen, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, laborers (except for illegals)...we can all work in air conditioned high rises tapping away on computers and our food, heat, cooling, light, plastic wrappers, gasoline, oil, etc. will magically appear when needed.
And if we do offshore everything possible and then get into a war where normal trade can't happen, well, tough luck. The skill sets needed for manufacturing, energy production and farming will be gone, but what the heck.
On the other hand, we are one of the few countries in the world that could be totally self-sufficient in every aspect of production -- not even needing the rest of the world because we rich in every kind of resource -- but no, let's not do that. It makes too much sense.
We don't need it. We're more of a service economy now not a factory led economy, and to be frank we don't need any more factories. If other country's laborers can assemble light fixtures assembly at a more efficient pace than the next country because of their comparative advantage, and we can produce financial analyst laborers very fast at a more effecient rate, than the previous country mention, because of our comparative advantage, then why are we having the conversation of keeping skilled blue collar jobs, ie. automobile parts facotry worker, in the united states? These jobs are becoming obsolete in our US economy and it's a good thing.
In the long run we don't need manufacturing employment, but we do need manufacturing, and we also need something for those people to do to make a decent living.
I "get it" from an economic POV, but as for the humanistic view.....
Good luck telling the guy who's worked at GM for 20 years to go be a cab driver now.
All this shipping of part also damages the environment. So good luck telling you grandkids and beyond that we all wear face mask 24/7 because big business fired their ancestors and sold out their health and planet to take advantage of exploiting Chinese and Mexicans.
Hope the plastic chairs they buy a few times a year because they will be worth pennies provide enough comfort for those realities. If not, maybe they can take school trips to the garbage patch to worship all that we have accomplished via free trade.
I "get it" from an economic POV, but as for the humanistic view.....
Good luck telling the guy who's worked at GM for 20 years to go be a cab driver now.
All this shipping of part also damages the environment. So good luck telling you grandkids and beyond that we all wear face mask 24/7 because big business fired their ancestors and sold out their health and planet to take advantage of exploiting Chinese and Mexicans.
Hope the plastic chairs they buy a few times a year because they will be worth pennies provide enough comfort for those realities. If not, maybe they can take school trips to the garbage patch to worship all that we have accomplished via free trade.
Ahhhh..... greed.
Oops, i meant capitalism
I know this is the thing lol. These people aren't just laborers, they're people, and I do see over industrialization happening if we make the shift from manufacturing to service/professional too quickly. The thing is america's economy will always be diversified, but how much skilled blue collar can we ship away to keep up with global economy, better our citizens, and protect environment.
One of our biggest advantages in WW II was the ability to quickly switch peace time manufacturing to production of the tools of war, I don't think I'd be quick to write off the skills and manufacturing capacity so easily.
This is true, however, are we going to have another wwII, do we need this large of a manufacturing base on reserve?
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