OK for the sake of argument let's assume all the components to build a car in the USA are not made in the USA.
So we are now talking about assembly plants only.....which used to be done 100% here in the USA (with over 90% of the components and parts also made in the USA).
So as more foreign companies build their cars here the US car assembly plant jobs eliminated are offset by the foreign assembly plants new jobs.
The cars that are bought here in the USA and not built in ANY plants here in the USA have eliminated assembly plant jobs that have not been offset by these companies having assembly plants here.
Soooooo, if all the cars that are not built in assembly plants here in the USA were no longer purchased, the consumer would in turn buy a car assembled in America only. There would be a SIGNIFICANT increase in the need for assembly plants to make the cars that are currently made OUTSIDE the USA.
Now while you are trying to figure out what all the above means....also think about all the material used in our clothes, all the sneakers, all the electronics once upon a time were all made here. As those products and materials are made outside the USA all the jobs that used to be here to do all that stuff are gone.
In closing I will give one more example. Many, MANY years ago I used to work for GE in Appliance PArk Louisville, KY. When I first started there employment was around 10,000 (1965)....in the mid 70's employment was over 20,000....and we used to take pride in bragging that "...at least all the major appliances were still made in the USA...". Fast forward to 2010....employment in Appliance Park Louisville, KY is less the 6,000.......and almost none of GE's major appliances are made in the USA.
All manufacturing jobs lost.
No longer MADE IN AMERICA and all the associated jobs for all the products and services that used to be provided....are gone.
Yes we are a global society. Yes globalization is a way of life.....to a point.
But PLEASE do not state of infer that not buying MADE IN AMERICA is not the issue. Why do you think emerging countries like China have improving economies? Because just like the USA was in a manufacturing upswing from the 1900's to the 1950's providing growth of the middle class. China has been in the growing manufacturing mode accommodating all the products and jobs that since the 1950's.....THAT USED TO BE DONE HERE IN THE USA.
Not buying American in the numbers we have during the past 20 years has greased the skid we are currently in. And it won't change much until such time as NEW manufacturing starts here in the USA....like pursuing products made here in the USA that replace energy produced by foreign oil.....this initiative alone would provide countless new manufacturing jobs. Why this is not being pursued is something to be discussed...AGAIN AND AGAIN... in the political forum.
I do my damndest each and every day to buy MADE IN AMERICA as much as practically possible....when ever possible.
There now I feel better....again.
btk
|