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I sincerely hope US and Canada can regrow some manufacturing capacity. I think the only way to do it is by a one-two punch, and middle class like me are going t
by markus_zhang 2y ago
I sincerely hope US and Canada can regrow some manufacturing capacity. I think the only way to do it is by a one-two punch, and middle class like me are going to seriously get hurt, but I still want it done, for the sake of later generations and for a better, safer, more competitive humanity. Safer because a successful reform removes the need of a world war.
The one-two punch is:
1) A massive devaluation of housing, stocks and other similar items. The reason for this is we need to introduce local, more affordable merchandises, which can only be brought by cheaper lands, cheaper labor -- but no one is going to work $6 an hour (about 45 Yuan per hour, more or less on par with the better paid Chinese manufacturers I think) unless, unless housing and renting costs a fraction, like, 20%. That's why I said we are going to get seriously hurt. This is basically a wealth transfer from the richer to the poorer.
2) Educate a whole generation that labor is honorable, so that engineers, scientists, technicians and such get more respect (I mean real respect, not the superficial one nowadays) than lawyers and bankers. It's a social change that takes at least one generation, perhaps two. Maybe I didn't put it right, but by saying getting more respect I'm basically saying getting an equal pay and equal say.
But I'm seeing is that US is taking another darker road.
- gruez 2y ago>1) A massive devaluation of housing, stocks and other similar items. I get how cheap housing can contribute to domestic manufacturing, but cheaper stocks? How does lower NVDA prices help domestic manufacturing? Is it just there to hose the rich?
- markus_zhang 2y agoI think they just drop at the same time. Maybe I'm wrong.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- s1artibartfast 2y agoI was expecting a how-to, not preconditions. It is very hard to devalue assets and jobs that are valuable in fact.
- markus_zhang 2y agoYeah I think it's very hard. Wealth redistribution is essentially a revolution, and successful revolutions rarely occur before a war with external states.
- s1artibartfast 2y agoI would argue that war increases the factual value of workers. It isn't a moralistic redistribution. It is hard to fight against economic reality, like low market value of highly replaceable labor. However, situations can change that increase demand or make labor more scarce. War is one of those situations. Now I think that binding social contracts are garbage and used to crush peoples lives for vapid soundbyte. The only way to ensure social collaboration is positive sum is by keeping it keeping it voluntary. When people have no opt out, they are mercilessly exploited, if not by corrupt politicians, then by a majority whenever they can.
- huijzer 2y ago> Educate a whole generation that labor is honorable, so that engineers, scientists, technicians and such get more respect (I mean real respect, not the superficial one nowadays) than lawyers and bankers. And people who do real work with their hands around physical objects? What task can a scientist do if you need to build a factory and get lines humming? Scientists are great at optimizing complex processes, but what if there is no process yet?
- markus_zhang 2y agoThey are in the same group ("and such").
- Workaccount2 2y agoI'd love to see it too, but as someone who does hardware for a living and software sometimes for fun, I just don't see how this is going to happen. Hardware is a money pit endeavor with low margins and high overhead. Software is a money printer with high margins and low overhead.
- markus_zhang 2y agoTBH, I don't see it either. It's a hell lot of changes that can only be achieved by some dramatic political movements.
- anothercoup 2y ago> I sincerely hope US and Canada can regrow some manufacturing capacity. What does canada have anything to do with anything. When was canada a manufacturing power? Why do canadians love to interject themselves into topics that don't involve them? > 1) A massive devaluation of housing, stocks and other similar items. You want wealth destruction? Most of americans' wealth is tied to home equity and 401k. > That's why I said we are going to get seriously hurt. Who is we? Are you even american? > 2) Educate a whole generation that labor is honorable, so that engineers, scientists, technicians and such get more respect (I mean real respect, not the superficial one nowadays) than lawyers and bankers. What are you talking about? You think lawyers and bankers get more respect than engineers and scientists? > But I'm seeing is that US is taking another darker road. What road is that?
- soared 2y agoHow do low pay manufacturing jobs create a better, safer, more competitive humanity? What does that phrase mean? Why not educate the masses to have successfull careers like most of HN, maybe working remote for a foreign company, and taking the salary back home to the US?