On October 5, the White House released a 139-page report, "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States." The report had been originally due to be completed in April, but the deadline was extended, due to the importance of the study and the involvement of the Defense Department, the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department and the White House in researching and writing it.
The report is unclassified (there is a Classified Action Plan which calls for a further Defense Department study on industrial base requirements for military force modernization) and is well-worth reading in its entirety. It is the most comprehensive assessment of the US manufacturing sector by the US Government in 65 years--since President Eisenhower conducted the Solarium Project to prepare for the Cold War. Needless to say, it is not a pretty picture. From 1979-2017, the country lost 7.1 million manufacturing jobs, with more than 5 million lost since 2000.
The report pinpoints many national security vulnerabilities as the result of the out-sourcing of our manufacturing base. Rare earth and other strategic materials vital to defense production, space research and high-tech manufacturing outside the defense sector are all imported. Many vital production facilities for the defense sector rely on one producer, or rely on firms that are facing bankruptcy. STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are declining. Highly skilled workers are reaching retirement age, and firms are finding it nearly impossible to recruit and train younger replacements.
The report is a call to arms, for a revival of the nation's manufacturing sector, through improved STEM education, capital investment in choke points, and a launching of apprenticeship programs, to encourage young generation men and women to seek jobs in the manufacturing sector that can provide a middle class standard of living without the need for a four-year college degree and post-graduate degrees....
Sic Semper Tyrannis
HARPER: RESTORING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
HARPER: RESTORING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
“STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are declining”
ReplyDeleteTell me about it.....
Tell me about it..... Franko
ReplyDeleteYes, because the best brains are seduced by a corrupt financial system - one that you support, Franko.
“the best brains are seduced by a corrupt financial system”
ReplyDeleteThat’s not true... another MMT elite fairy fantasy belief...
If that were true then why is it all F-ed up?
I know I know “neoliberal conspiracy!!!”....
I don't believe in conspiracies - except the ones run from Hell.
ReplyDeleteIf that were true then why is it all F-ed up? Franko
ReplyDeleteBecause a corrupt system shall never work properly unless God is mocked and He isn't, i.e.
The foolishness of God is greater than the wisdom of man. 1 Corinthians 1:25
Hmmm... the West waking up to the consequences of its flawed version of free market capitalism? Maybe the nationalism part but will it ever tackle the class relations aspects? Will Hell freeze over first? Does God have a balancing solution or ever did?
ReplyDeleteDoes God have a balancing solution or ever did? Schofield
ReplyDeleteIn the Bible, usury is permitted from foreigners and given our multicultural society might plausibly be acceptable to God.
But what isn't plausibly acceptable is government privileges for usury.