Capt. SPOT ON!
You'r correct as PENN felt the blow in the Steel industry in the early 60s.
Your observation is obvious to very few however, in Congress.
Before I decided to tap into the Global Market, rasing capital for Global Projects, I delt with only US private manufacture Owners. The stories they told me would turn your stomach.
We are at about 30% of what we use to be in Manufacturing alone.
The few that are left, more than half are building manufacturing plants overseas. Currently, Indonesia is a hot spot. Most the guys, when they spoke about China, Indonesia, they had a crackle in their voice. Many told me it turned their stomach to have to resort to off shore. Many fought in wars to defend this country, took their money and started with one machine. Grew their business and created american jobs. They took risk and the believed in America. Many are trying to hold on to the "Old" America, where Pro-business friends in DC would not try and squeez them to death, where Unions were somewhat decent to deal with, if needed.
The Freeloaders, the Socialist, but most of all,...the AMERICAN PEOPLE have allowed one of the biggest and profitable assets to dwendel away...our Manufacturing base.
The dream of making millions pushing paper for the last decade has now been discovered as a dream. Empire of "Dirt" is worth more than an Empire of "Paper".
As an "Investment Banker" gone Rogue....dealing in Private Equity across the world now, I feel for those who can not tap into the Global Market.
A manufacture, an employee, a business that wants to expand and not fall victom to the US Politcal body, the Freeloaders, the Socialist have no choice but to tap into the world market. And once they do and they see the revenue that comes from the WHOLE WORLD and not just a part, many will take the leap of faith and leave the US...all be it for business or for living.
The only way to reverse the destruction caused by the Freeloaders, scumbags on WallStreet, Progressives, and CONGRESS is to hault business tax's on Manufactures, to fund a new error of manufacturing base instead of the bullshit Social programs, to retool for the future.
However, my chips are all in for the Global Market Place and not on the US. I do not see us reversing the current policy even with the REPs in control of congress. They will only slow the process down.