American Workers lose jobs to foreign companies is our fault

American Workers lose jobs to foreign companies is our fault

We lost our manufacturing base, but the loss was the result of a number of factors.   1) After WW2 we in 1946 rebuilt the factories that were destroyed in the war.    We did so with modern Tech while at home we made due with what we had.  2) We fostered the growth of corrupt labor unions.   These labor unions fought the rebuilding and modernization of the plants, 3) The University of Chicago credo - 'what is the bottom line' took hold, and essential research and development was eliminated and 4) Nafta and globalization.  

The sum of these factors resulted in the loss of America in its manufactured products.    It also meant that innovation replaced hard research and more importantly it allowed foreign manufacturers to compete on equal terms with home industries.  Finally, domestic taxes and political policies broke the camel's back.    

In the late 60's the Town of Manistee Michigan offered 1% financing for 150% of the cost of locating a plant in the town, and offered a site for locating the plant was ideal.     Due to my work with Jackson Realty, I was asked to attempt to market the property.    Every company I contacted had one word to say to me - no!!!!     The reason was that the Michigan Governor, Soapy Williams, was in the pocket of labor unions and they felt that labor costs would create such an hostile environment that paying top dollar for the real estate and top dollar for the financing was cheaper than a bargain  price and 1% financing in the State of Michigan.   

Toyota does not have the UAW imposed restrictions or pay scale, nor does it have the tax the rich 'cline' that is so common in the 'rust belt.'     It thus, has the ability to produce a vehicle that is competitive in price and quality that earns the company a profit and allows the public to afford the vehicle.   

This is not to say that you have to do a 'tag' day for GM.    They still make 10-20% on some models of their vehicles; however, they have the residual of all the evils that they tolerated in the last half of the 20th Century.     Toyota has fresh plant, younger workers, and no 'tail.'  

The University of Chicago attitude - bottom line - is still the credo of the American population and no matter what we do to compete, if we do not recognize that basic research is not an expendable commodity we are going to continue to fall behind.  

American workers are also losing service jobs to other countries – via the telephone lines and the internet. Microsoft, HP, Dell and others are utilizing other nations and their workers to provide Americans with customer support.

The question is where and when does it all end. 

It is time for the American worker to utilize our knowledge and infrastructure to produce an efficient quality product with good endurance and quality control. We have the knowledge, we have the capability and resources, all we need is the will power and determination and nothing will stand in our way of accomplishing these tasks.

We now have at least one of the opportunities among many is the renewable energy industry – let us not miss the boat.

We can turn around the automobile industry, utilizing the new demand for fuel efficient automobiles and alternative fuels, all we have to do is work together cohesively for a common goal. (Workers, union and management) These apply to many other American industries.

What happened to our pride “MADE IN THE USA?”

YJay Draiman

Northridge, CA