My favorite illustrator, John Cox, came up with this illustration last year that echoes, I think, public sentiment, especially during these trying economic times. Many believe we are abandoning our nation’s manufacturing roots in favor of becoming a country that makes nothing and buys everything from abroad but likes to think we’ll be dominant in the development of technology (with any related manufacturing, of course, being outsourced offshore.) Whew! Long sentence!
I think we’re deluding ourselves. We could regain our dominance in manufacturing if we simply uncoupled ourselves from labor unions. Why can’t we compete in auto manufacturing, even against Japanese auto makers who manufacture cars right here in the U.S.A.? Because the Japanese car makers are exempt from our trade unions (and aren’t financially hamstrung trying to support a bottom heavy legacy pension plan, but that’s another issue for another day). Hardly a level playing field, is it. But what are we doing about it? Nothing.
Anyway, I thought John’s illustration was particularly poignant at this time of year when we’re concerned about our economy and vanishing manufacturing roots. Fisher-Price, Mattel - many of this country’s major toy manufacturers - have outsourced the manufacturing of their toys to China, and quality and safety have suffered. Not too many years ago, Americans wouldn’t have accepted poor quality. But we’ve become a nation of “sheeple,” too fat and lazy to do anything about it. I hope we rediscover our cajones before it’s too late.