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Let me start with, I agree 100%. And then comes the "but". The public policy prescription often made in order to achieve this goal is to bring manufacturing ba

by azernik 11y ago

Let me start with, I agree 100%. And then comes the "but". The public policy prescription often made in order to achieve this goal is to bring manufacturing back. Unfortunately (?) in advanced economies manufacturing is no longer a steady source of plentiful blue-collar jobs. I think that's what the parent comment was getting at with "there's no rule" - if you encourage the manufacturing sector, there's no rule that makes it create jobs when economic imperatives drive it to greater automation. Jobs that are available to people without much education, savings, or assorted social capital are absolutely necessary to the stability of our society. I just don't think manufacturing can get us those in a country with developed-country living standards. EDIT: Fixed lots of phone-keyboard typos.

Retric 11y ago
IMO a lot of jobs that end up going to illegal immigrants could be good blue collar jobs. Sure, right now landscaping etc has plenty of cheap day labor, but reduce the supply and suddenly people can make living wages. Think about it, 12 million illegal aliens is simply huge downward wage pressure. Granted, that would significantly increase costs and fewer people would have perfect landscaping. But, IMO we as a society would probably be better off. PS: I know someone with a job that is basically this stuff, he makes ~40k with benefits in a cheap area of North Carolina. Meanwhile people in DC are getting 1/2 that and no benefits.