>I think the only reasonable way to stay relevant long term is for the US to forget about manufacturing and focus on intellectual endeavors. A seriously small

>I think the only reasonable way to stay relevant long term is for the US to forget about manufacturing and focus on intellectual endeavors. A seriously small fraction of the country is capable of this type of work. Not everyone can "learn to code", and a former line worker isn't going to become a firmware engineer overnight - if ever. Manufacturing was a way for those folks, predominantly men, to find worth in their life and a steady paycheck they could support a family with. Discount this as "electioneering" all you want, but the situation is more nuanced than "well the Chinese are more willing to do this work as evidenced by their lower wages". I guarantee that a lot of Gig Economy folks would trade the unknown and inconsistent schedule (I get it that that works for some) for steady hours and a predictable paycheck.