Made in the U.S.A.

On previous cross-country trips I sometimes stayed in Newton, Iowa.  It’s a small town on old U.S. 6, east of Des Moines and just north of I-80. The courthouse is wonderful, and the downtown was prosperous.  The last time I stopped by, in 2007, the town was thriving.  It was the home of the Maytag Corporation.  

Maytag shut down its factories since that time.  We drove though Newton this year, and it was obvious the town was on its way down.  

This country needs a manufacturing policy.  In China companies receive free land, cheap credit, and tax breaks.  China graduates more engineers than the U.S.  China understands the importance of making things and exporting the items it makes.

What are our expanding sectors?  Health care and the service industries.  What is Rick Perry’s answer?  Allow companies to pollute and kill unions.  

First, we need to recognize that the decline of manufacturing is a problem.  Secondly, we need to take realistic steps to address the problem.  I don’t see either of those about to happen.