[Hawthorn]

>> Trump also has an objective to bring manufacturing back <<

“Manufacturing” as a whole never left. In fact, as a share of national output, it hasn’t changed all that much.

But on the other hand, manufacturing has automated to the extent that in steel, for example, two men can now do the work that used to require ten men. Ditto for many other industries.

Also, a lot of factories have closed, and their workers have needed to find other jobs — exactly as have the workers replaced by automation. But does that mean we now have mass unemployment?

Uh, no. Unemployment is now at record low levels.

[bert]

You are correct. I visit lots of companies and see up close that manufacturing is thriving and now growing. They are all involved in the export of their products.

Yesterday I visited a company that has seen sales shrink since 2008. They have tightened up and still getting by.

That is what I was told in response to asking “How’s business”

Then I was told we are having a people problem. With the recent improvement in the economy we are locally at full employment and there are no workers to hire.

This observation of the reality in my locality is going to become the national reality