"Dave" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 04:50:54 GMT, "Maxprop" said:

The US is capable
of doing either, or both. But labor is going to have to recognize some
major realignment, along with top-heavy industry. The $30 per hour jobs
are
vanishing faster than spotted owls, and until organized labor acknowledges
that low-paying jobs are better than NO jobs, the situation will
exacerbate.

I think you're fighting yesterday's battle that's already been lost. We
probably have no business trying to compete in the manufacture of goods
that
have a major labor component.

I admit I probably haven't faced up to the reality of it, but I'd have to
agree. Wishful thinking won't correct the issue.

I'm more concerned with the country's
increased lack of competitiveness in the better-paying services and
software
sectors.

No doubt we are doomed to repeat earlier mistakes. And it doesn't help when
we incur the costs of development for higher-tech products and services,
only to have them pirated and sold for pennies on the dollar by our "most
favored nation" trading partners.

Max