I never suggested total isolationism. We cannot possibly produce or manufacture everything we need and want. Somethings, whether they be finished goods or raw materials are just not available here.
What would I do? To state a few:
- Have a temporary moratorium on immigration. Our own Census Bureau projections estimate the US population to grow substantially by an additional 120 million people by 2050 , mainly due to immigration and higher immigrant birth rates. Also at the current legal immgration level of 1 million per year, we attain the population equivalent of an entire state like Indiana every six years! Where will all of these people live?
- Enact laws and policies to preserve and encourage investment in domestic industry. Certain strategic industries should be protected, especially those related to national defense.
- Penalize imports that are not manufactured under the same constraints as those made here. Those slave labor camps in China churning out sneakers do not meet our standards for an honest wage rate, environmental laws, etc.
- Re-evaluate trade policies of other nations like Japan to levelize the playing field, especially in the automotive industry.
- Pay the average working man a livable wage rate, wherever he may be. Something higher than the current minimum wage which is below the poverty level.
- Restrict the exportation of domestically developed technology that may give other countries a manufacturing edge. This is one reason how many foreign companies are able to make goods of reasonable quality - at our expense.
- Change the attitude short-sighted, self-gain motivated corporate America and our so-called leaders. How? I got some very good ideas!
Its a very complex problem, that will not be solved overnight. However, we'd better wake up and take action before its too late.
