The Power of Innovation

Well, we are going to wade a little deeper today!

Last week and earlier this week Hillary and Barack were running around in North Carolina and Indiana trying to answer the questions about lost jobs to overseas manufacturers. They are well aware that Indiana and North Carolina have lost well over 100,000 and 200,000 manufacturing jobs respectively since 2001, and as the so-called “champions” of labor, they dutifully blamed China, NAFTA, and the Bush administration for all of it. Both candidates have solutions and made promises appropriate on the occasion.

All of this is fine and well except those and a great many additional jobs will continue to be exported and there is little or nothing the Democrats or Republicans can (or should) do about it. The Chinese and Indian people/governments have figured out that these jobs are ripe for the taking. Consider that each of these nations are centuries older than the U.S., have strong national identities, and have over a billion people each that want the same things any human being on the face of the planet wants. Particularly, the Chinese are motivated, clever and industrious so when it comes to sanding, assembling, painting, sewing, polishing, etc. it is simply naïve to think our workers are going to win out. No, these jobs are gone and going regardless of the denials and promises of our current or future politicians.

So, do I, as an owner of a small manufacturing company, believe we are doomed and destined for subjugation? I do believe we face a real, third world war-type struggle for economic survival. The odds are 2 billion to 300 million (or almost 7 to 1 if you spend any time in Las Vegas). I think we, as a nation, have lived so well for so long that most of us believe our standard of living is guaranteed somewhere in the Bill of Rights, but are too __________ (fill in the blank) to confirm it. But, no, I believe we have the trump card in this game. The United States has been the most innovative country in modern world history. Our superior ability to invent, and produce has been clearly and repeatedly demonstrated over the last 230 years. Abraham Lincoln spoke on numerous occasions about the fragility of our new, innovative and untested form of popularly elected national government. He was so convinced of its merit, he would take this nation to war against itself to preserve and validate the experiment. WW I & WW II, the Russian Sputnik and the Cold War produced incredible new American technology.

Now, the question is raised as to whether or not this national talent remains strong enough to secure our position in the world economy. On Monday and Tuesday I will offer what I believe is undeniable proof American inventiveness and competitiveness is alive and well. Well enough to “carry the day” I don’t dare speculate. Maybe you, the reader would like to do so.

Thanks and click us on tomorrow.