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Could the US ever become the WW2 era manufacturing (not the war, the manufacturing) machine again?
Partially, I think the decline in the dollar should be a long term benefit towards bringing some production, or retaining production, in the USA. To some degree the emphasis will continue to be on automation of production, and I think the US can be a major designer and producer of robotics.
Partially, I think the decline in the dollar should be a long term benefit towards bringing some production, or retaining production, in the USA. To some degree the emphasis will continue to be on automation of production, and I think the US can be a major designer and producer of robotics.
Even with the automation, and decine of the dollar, do you think the manufacturing costs in the US could be competitive? Presumably, the quality of certain types of manufactured products and components would be better if automated....but with those extremely low labor costs in other countries....? Any comments?
one reason large parts of the world arent speaking german or japanese or russian is because of america
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If Eastern Europe did not start speaking Russian after 40 years of Russian occupation, why do you think they would have suddenly started doing so in the past 20 years? Korea and Manchuria never spoke Japanese after a half a century of occupation. If you honestly believe that people assume the language of an occupying power, I think is is safe to say that your other assumptions have no validity, either.
There will always be those with a need to rewrite history. Maybe these examples have a Myth of Orlando Letelier and Ronnie Moffit page as well...
Indeed. Except when someone puts forth a "different perspective" from what we're used to, comfortable with, or believe in, they're accused of "revisionist history." It happens no matter what your political persuasion.
Can we attack what they assert vs. the mere fact that they assert at all? THAT is the question.
Partially, I think the decline in the dollar should be a long term benefit towards bringing some production, or retaining production, in the USA. .
Absolutely. And the benefit of the weak dollar is not limited to production, but also involves services and intellectual property. If we ever get our thirst for imported petroleum under control, the US will experience very robust GNP growth and -- it goes without saying -- a much more favorable balance of trade.
Even with the automation, and decine of the dollar, do you think the manufacturing costs in the US could be competitive? Presumably, the quality of certain types of manufactured products and components would be better if automated....but with those extremely low labor costs in other countries....? Any comments?
Yes, manufacturing has a wide range of complexities, and I believe we are staged to be very competitive for higher range manufacturing. This is especially true for industries involving significant innovation and change, it is easier to incorporate this into the process in a more educated country vs a lowest cost environment.
Indeed. Except when someone puts forth a "different perspective" from what we're used to, comfortable with, or believe in, they're accused of "revisionist history." It happens no matter what your political persuasion. Can we attack what they assert vs. the mere fact that they assert at all? THAT is the question.
Sure, maybe all of history is just an agreed upon pack of lies. And maybe even the people who were directly involved in US-Chilean relations in those times had only a limited point of reference, priveleged though it may have been. There are people who deny that the moon landings occurred. There are those who insist that Reagan was illegally bargaining hostages with the Iranians in 1980 before he was even elected. In general, fanstastic claims require strong evidence, and plausible deniability is a weak defense.
Absolutely. And the benefit of the weak dollar is not limited to production, but also involves services and intellectual property. If we ever get our thirst for imported petroleum under control, the US will experience very robust GNP growth and -- it goes without saying -- a much more favorable balance of trade.
There hasn't been such a thing as GNP since 1993, but otherwise our current trade imbalances aren't necessarily caused as much by terms of trade issues as by the fact that the US does not sell anything that people abroad actually wish to buy. We've been basically selling at rock-bottom, bargain prices almost continuously for the better part of four years, and the fish still aren't biting. Part of this may be attributed to a general feeling of disinclination to deal with the US in the presence of other options due to a global unpopularity with the attitude and policies of George W Bush. In a year and a day, he'll be gone. Maybe after that, repairs to the US image abroad can be begun, and perhaps a once favorable attitude toward dealing with the US can be restored in some degree...
Yes, manufacturing has a wide range of complexities, and I believe we are staged to be very competitive for higher range manufacturing. This is especially true for industries involving significant innovation and change, it is easier to incorporate this into the process in a more educated country vs a lowest cost environment.
This I'd agree with. We're basically about out of existing techonologies in which we can successfully (i.e., favorably) compete. We will need to invent our way into new comparative advantages, producing new things that other people want that (for a while at least) can be reliably obtained only in the US. As you say, we have the base infrastructure to accomplish such things. We just need the energy, creativity, and perhaps the federal funding, needed to go after them...
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