Since the 1800's the core strength of the United States has been
manufacturing. We are blessed with an excellent labor force; an abundance of raw
materials; domestic energy sources that can be tapped into; readily available
transportation through rail, roads and waterways; and a huge market right here
in America.
A nation that resigns itself to becoming just a consumer nation will tend toward a weaker economy and is pushed into a state of dependency. Yet a nation that manufactures will tend toward a much stronger economy and be in control of their own destiny. When you give up manufacturing you give up much, much more. The need for research, development, and technology become much less over time. Manufacturing know-how and manufacturing process technology will slip away since there is no need. This state of dependency becomes a threat to national security...economically, as well as for vital parts and items to run our country, and for national defense. A dependent nation becomes weak, vulnerable, and economically devastated. This is what has happened to the United States over the last several years.
In 2012, US News & World Report, reported that we had given up 5.1 million manufacturing jobs since 2001. Also in 2012, America's Economic Report - Daily reported that the loss of manufacturing jobs over 20 years was at an alarming level of 6.4 million jobs. Yet it is much worse than that since we also lose "magnet jobs". Those include other local businesses in the area of the manufacturing plants. These include restaurants, business suppliers, trades such as electricians, etc., legal services, insurance...and the list goes on and on...all those that support the manufacturing business. The net total loss of jobs by giving up manufacturing could be as high as 8 to 9 million jobs over the last 20 years. This has a devastating effect on our economy.
No single step could improve our economy more than bringing back manufacturing to America.
But don't look to Washington to solve our loss of manufacturing problem in the U.S. Don't look to corporate leadership to solve the problem, they are driven by greed and in many cases over simplistic false economics. And don't look to the business schools in America...they are the ones who preached for many years that ..."We are becoming a service economy". In fact they beat the drum so much on this topic that people began to believe it. A great disservice to America. (Look around you. Everything you see is manufactured!)
The result of all this is that we have given up our core strength as a country, specifically, manufacturing. So how do we solve this problem? Well, this is one area where the people, the consumers, still have tremendous power. We are need to get strongly organized behind ONLY buying goods that are manufactured in America. We need to insist upon it. This one, strong, simple step will turn the economy of America around into a very positive direction. Not Washington; not greedy, misguided corporations; not the business schools; but the people of America! Don't be fooled by "assembled in America" only. We should buy goods that are MADE and ASSEMBLED in America, by our own workers.
You have great power to do something very positive for your country. Starting today, this very moment, you are urged to look at labels...and even if you have to do some research and investigation on where to find it...ONLY buy goods that are MADE IN AMERICA. Insist upon it. By doing so YOU will be a major force toward turning the economy of the United States around. I guarantee it. YOU can make a major difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment