Economics is a strange subject.
A trade surplus is great for China, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland but bad for the United States who once saved the world from Tyranny with its manufacturing base.
Aircraft
Over 300,000 military aircraft, including:
Fighters: P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt
Bombers: B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress
Ships
88,410 naval vessels, including:
6,768 cargo ships (like the Liberty and Victory ships)
1,200 major warships
22 aircraft carriers (fleet and escort)
Tanks and Armored Vehicles
88,410 tanks and self-propelled guns
Small Arms
Over 12 million rifles and carbines
2.7 million machine guns
Over 40 billion rounds of ammunition
Vehicles
Over 2.3 million military trucks and jeeps
At its peak, the U.S. was producing nearly 40% of all Allied military equipment.
The vast majority of the workers were middle income.
But now we are told America sucks in manufacturing so we need to just run massive trade deficits and we will be so much more wealthier. Who cares if tens of millions will never have a shot of a meaningful career with good benefits. Let them flip burgers.
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