Posted on 05/07/2009 2:37:54 AM PDT by Scanian
For your enjoyment or not...Much manufacturing is related to the autos you see...this is why it’s such a crucial industry.
Can US Manufacturing Industry Be Saved?
Thursday, December 04, 2008
But if the Big Three fail what will be left of the U.S. manufacturing base? Televisions, computers, cell phones, radios and other electronics have already been ceded to Asia, particularly to China. The U.S. barely makes cruise ships, Boeing is becoming a relic, and U.S. factories dwindle as China assumes her spot as the factory floor to the world.
“If the automotive sector is dramatically downsized, the overall manufacturing sector takes tremendous hit,” Alan Tonelson, research fellow for the United States Business and Industry Council, said, adding much of U.S. manufacturing is somehow related to the auto industry.
But even of more concern for the manufacturing expert is what happens to the middle class if the auto industry is removed from the U.S. manufacturing equation.
“Where else will the middle-class jobs come from? What sector of the economy can we expect to produce them?” Mr. Tonelson asked, noting other sectors, such as retail, services, and government have historically been unable to maintain a vibrant middle class.
U.S. manufacturing is facing a point of no return and Mr. Tonelson believes the crisis was the fruit of our own opportunism. (excerpted)
LLS
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