Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
Wed Jan 22, 2014, 08:12 PM Jan 2014

What Would A Full-Fledged Manufacturing Policy Look Like?

http://ourfuture.org/20140121/what-would-a-full-fledged-manufacturing-policy-look-like


Why Don’t We Have A National Manufacturing/Economic Strategy?

... Our international competitors have national manufacturing strategies. THEY see themselves as countries, and they compete with us as if we were a country. But we do not respond as a country, so they win.

Here in the U.S. we have succumbed to a corporate/conservative/libertarian ideology that says we have to be separate from each other, on our own. The ideology dictates that it is wrong to act together – “collectively” – to solve our problems. This anti-government, anti-community, anti-country ideology dictates that the last thing we should do is have a national … anything – and, of course, no national strategies for competition with countries that are coming after us as a country.

The result? Our 2012 trade deficit was $540 billion. That is $540 billion drained from our economy.

Imagine what $540 billion of orders for goods and services made and/or done here would do for our economy. Imagine how many jobs would be created, factories opened, suppliers busy, etc. What you are imagining is a way to understand how much that trade deficit actually cost us in 2012.
(more)
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»What Would A Full-Fledged...