2016 Postmortem

The assumption of some that manufacturing is dead and can't be brought back is simply untrue. I have visited Italy several times in the last six years, and the thing that strikes me is that they still make things: they manufacture clothes, shoes, furniture, cars, tableware, etc., etc., in addition to agricultural products; and as a result, they have a diversified economy. We used to have that, and there is no reason that we can't do it again. They also have a strong labor movement. What do we still make in this country besides cars and weapons? Obama himself said that he wanted to see us start making things again, not just shuffling paper around (as is the case of the financial services industry, which has grown by leaps and bounds).

Part of the Trump vote was a FU to Washington and Wall Street, neither of which have seemed to benefit most people. If we don't listen to that cry of rage and frustration, we will continue to lose and lose and lose. The alternative to the nativist discourse of Trump is to create more jobs for everyone, not just talk about retraining people for jobs that don't exist. The Washington establishment of both parties is out of touch with the concerns of most people in this country.