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What's NOT Made in China?
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by simon1966</i> <br /><br />[quote]QUOTE: <br />Look at the prosperity of once-industrial centers, like Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, and others; then compare that with what they were like 60-50 years ago!! [/quote] <br /> <br />Chicago is booming, gowing like crazy and is full of high tech and service orientated companies. St. Louis has undergone significant urban renewal in the down town and is also the home to high tech, biotech and is working hard to attract more of these types of business. I have friends in Pittsburgh that tell me that this city is finally starting to break away from independance on the old industries. I suspect that all 3 of these cities are significantly better off today than 60 years ago. <br /> <br />Industries ebb and flow. Jobs are created in new fields. <br /> <br />In 1920, my wife's grandfather moved to the USA from Croatia to work the mines of central Illinois. He died in the mines, crushed between coal cars down the shaft. This industry basically does not exist in central Illinois. Better coal is produced more efficiently in other parts of the USA and the World and other power sources have gained greater prominence. Decended from this one poor imigrant there are now 21 American families working in the following industries: <br /> <br />Chiropractor x2 <br />High tech medical sales <br />Office furniture supply <br />State benefits department <br />Tree farming <br />US Airforce civil contractor repairing landing gear <br />Insurance underwriter <br />Software developer <br />Auto sales <br />Etc. <br /> <br />I guarantee that everyone of the decendents is significantly better off, working in jobs that did not exist 50 years ago. <br /> <br />Industries die, strong economies like the USA, replace these older industries with better paying higher tech jobs. <br /> <br />The US economy employs many more people today than 50 years ago. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />Ok they have more jobs but what are they paying? Is the pay equal to what say a Pittsburgh steelmill working is/was making? Better paying?? no they are not, and guess what high tech jobs are on their way out the door to India, don't be fooled. As I said before, I work for a construction contractor that does allot of work with GE, GE brings in people from India they pay for their house, schooling, car, everything and then they train here, then send them and all of there equipment back to India. Your so called high tech jobs are leaving as well, the blue collar jobs were just the beginning of the trend. Now that 99% of our industry is gone forever, now they are moving the so called high tech jobs out. <br /> <br />Now service jobs, come on, how many coffee shops do we need in the US? Sure cities are building but how many buildings are full? It would surprise you if you knew. Also service jobs do not pay like the industrial jobs used to. <br /> <br />As you said that you suspect, which is true you are doing the suspecting, but go to Pittsburgh or Homestead or McKeesport, or how about Bethlehem PA or Detroit? I have been in those towns, Pittsburgh is a hurting, Homestead is a ghost town McKeesport is pretty empty and so is Bethlehem. I am sure that the people living in those towns would like to have their steel mills back and other cities would like to have their big industrial plants back. Just think of the tax money that those mills brought into a town or city. Those cities are hurting for money cause the mills and plants are gone forever. <br /> <br /> <br />Sure we may have more people employed today but that is because the average person is working more than one job. Just thing back when this country was an industrial super power, only one person had to work, the wife could stay home, or the husband could, now both have to work to try and make ends meet. <br /> <br />All I can say is I hope that we never have a war against us, cause we will be screwed!!!!
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