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[quote user="tomikawaTT"]I, too, would like to see a lot more production in the United States, but there are facts that seems to be getting overlooked in this discussion:<ul><li>The unemployment rate in the United States is rather low.</li><li>There are jobs here that are looking for workers.</li><li>Most Americans today wouldn't put up with the conditions found in overseas/3rd world factories.</li></ul>So, if all the things presently made in China were to be made in USA, where would the workers come from - no matter whether it was an 800 person factory using pre-WWII technology or a 21st century automated, computer controlled, roboticised operation getting the same production out of 25 highly skilled technicians?Why, we'd have to import workers - aka immigrants - to take up the slack.If you think I'm going to open that bucket of worms, think again!Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)[/quote] Tomikawa and Selector published the tips of ice bergs that deserve further exploring. The core issue on jobs and manufacturing, however, is that, yes, Tomikawa, there are not enough skilled workers to fill the jobs that are now open. And thanks to Selector, we realize that many people specialize and those who specialize in desireable skills earn more.  I believe the United States has an ample labor supply that is misused. Reading the Wall Street Journal, I understand that Chinese students are very good at memorization and regurgitation of technical knowledge, but lack creativity or the ability to adapt their knowledge to new applications.  Americans, on the whole, do the later rather well over time. But, American students (and I was one of them) are told to follow their heart and do "what makes you happy."Following "the dream" without guidance doesn't pay the bills. And it doesn't leave high school or college students with the skill sets they need to earn a living. Math needs to be taught more intensively.  I couldn't have failed more miserably in high school triginometry and still pass, but I should have stuck to it or gotten a kick in the pants from someone who knew better -- and not just admonitions from the belching, gold-chain wearing Vietnam War draft dodger of a math teacher I had.  Now, I am struggling at calculus and choking down accounting skills to someday become an accountant, because my BA in political science keeps me below the poverty level.The grand point, is that manufacturing can and should return, in part, to the United States when we have enough technically skilled workers to accomodate it. I believe it is doable and soon, say 5 to 10 years.  As an aside, I also happen to agree with NAFTA and WTO but with reciprocity.If wealthy Chinese businessmen have the ability to come to my home town and buy a house on the lake or build a subdivision in my hometown, I should have the exact rights in China. Same goes for Mexico ... Or, until I have those rights, they should be denied to foreigners in the U.S. (sorry to the folks from Australia ... I don't want you to buy any more parking ramps or U.S. Interstates until I open an exotic fish farm on the Barrier Reef.)It's all about free movement of CAPITAL, GOODS, SERVICES and LABOR. Not just a couple of these when someone feels like it. I've said enough. Ignatius
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