[Count of Monte Fisto]

Even if the U.S. didn't import a single manufactured product from a foreign nation, we'd be producing those things here in heavily automated facilities that don't have many employees at all.

BS. Germany has the most advanced production facilities in the world that employ highly compensated workers and they don't have the mass unemployment we are experiencing here.

[Alberta's Child]

The Milken Institute did a study a few years ago about prospects for U.S. employment growth, and they cited Germany as an example of an advanced industrial economy. Here's the list of "positive" attributes they cited of the German economy:

1. a socialist government
2. a highly qualified labor force
3. developed infrastructure
4. a large and new capital asset base
5. minimal corruption
6. a high level of innovation

You'll notice that "low labor cost" is not among these. And you'll notice that Item #5 is sorely lacking in many parts of the U.S.

Comparing the U.S. to a highly homogenized modern socialist state in Europe doesn't do much to explain our competitive advantages and disadvantages compared to Asian countries.