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We in Michigan have a saying that looks to be holding true.
What happens here, happens everywhere else.
Point is, laugh at Detroit, laugh at Michigan...youre next whether you know it or not.
Nice. Pull that from your ass, did you?
While I agree American car companies have done no good service to their own name, globalization was inevitable when political will and law enforcement are left to corporatists.
American car companies could be making Cadillacs at Geo prices and most Americans would elect to buy foreign anyway for one reason or another.
No, in all reality, so long as free trade includes outsourcing and globalization, manufacturing as a product of our economy was condemned to death one way or the other. Same with textiles, customer service and tech support.
Just as soon as corporatists figure out a way to offshore their entire scope of business and still sell their product at ridiculous profit to an eagerly ignorant America who actively defends their right to exploit them, they will.
Which is where government comes into play. At this rate, your grandchildren are going to be working for the government because there will be no other choice.
Sure, their paycheck will say an independent, private company...but that company will be beholden to government contracts. Sadly, its the way my business is going right now and I am seriously considering quitting at a time when I stand to make the most money.
I just couldnt look myself in the mirror every morning and say with a straight face "I am a member of the military industrial complex. My livelihood is based on America being in perpetual war, without that, I am unemployed."
I'd be happier unemployed.
We in Michigan have a saying that looks to be holding true.
What happens here, happens everywhere else.
Point is, laugh at Detroit, laugh at Michigan...youre next whether you know it or not.
Eh... the video is not total bull .
You're totally right about the fallout of the manufacturing economy starting the decline.. but Detroit didn't help itself by pumping money into the problem instead of reinventing itself.
You're right.. the video completely left out that important nugget.. but it's progressive policies sped the decline.
Thanks.
And.. i agree with your whole premise of how free trade hindered america.
Isn't Detroit near a big body of water? Why didn't it emulate Houston and reinvent itself as a port city.
Detroit is Detroit because of Detroit.
You may have lost a good job, and that's not your fault. But if you don't learn a new trade, you can only point the finger at yourself.
There is no way texas would on itself year after year for as long as MI has done. Reason being is our state govt. doesn't work enough to screw us up that bad.
unless of course you need medical insurance.
I'll bet you that free health care will totally revitalize Detroit.
Well, free trade hasn't, so why not?
When the purges start, somebody be sure to save a bullet or three for this , mkay?
I realize youre not from the area and probably not particularly familiar with detroit as a port city, so I'll ignore your omission of Niagara Falls being in between Michigan and the ocean.
Now, if you meant Michigan being a power on the Great Lakes Trade, they already are...it just doesnt make a difference.
Hmm, I am sure Michigan had a similar mindset in the 70s when the steel industry was taking a on itself.
Reinventing itself as what? They're in the manufacturing business and the labor is cheaper somewhere else.
DR,
Do you think Detroit is past some point of no return?
I haven't been there in about 10 years, and it already seemed pretty bad then.
They would need to attract different businesses to their city. As it is, I don't even know if they have many conventions at Cabo center any more.
Well, they have a fair share of Agriculture and Tourism, but that doesn't necessarily help Detroit the city itself. They're just too tied to the auto industry and that's not going to change for the time being.
'Globalization' and 'Free Trade' is what actually happened to the auto industry in this country in general and Detroit in particular.
It's easy to say 'Let's just move to Services from Manufacturing', but in reality it takes a long time, and normally you undergo a lot of to transition from one to the other, especially when you already have a manufacturing-heavy market. This is what's happening now, IMO.
Detroit is a glittering example of the failure of both wings of American progressivism in the 20th c.
Though both have brought the nation dominance of the world, the empire is clearly rotten at its core. Such was the trade the people made. Buying stuff was too fun. Home ownership was a right, not a privilege, or something you at least worked and saved toward.
Maybe youre not directing this comment at me, maybe you are.
To be clear, I am the GM of a small automotive supplier (emphasis on small). Seeing as my entire customer base moved their operations to (literally) just south of the border in Mexico, we have been struggling for years, hemorrhaging cash and employees at remarkable speed.
Now granted I work for an owner who has more pride than the toughest lion and he refuses to quit this game, but I have come to a crossroads.
He obviously doesnt give one about the political ramifications of the business we are exploring. He wants work in this building, with employees and profit, period.
I am being the good GM and working this project extremely hard, nailing every detail down from suppliers, customers, their customers, production intent, PPAP, TPP and a myriad of other acronyms I never cared to learn until now.
No matter what happens, if we get it or if we do not, I dont think I can continue doing this anymore. All I have ever known professionally is losing. Think about that...to never succeed. To never know "good times". To constantly hear about the way things used to be, when money was made and played, riding the train.
I only know loss, bleeding, stress, being underpaid, laying off grown men with families indefinitely, having a revolving door of employees that go from full time work to laid off, rinse repeat. Cutting people's salaries constantly....the morale at my place of business has always been extremely low. It is no fun to work here...ever.
I do this because I always thought I could do something about it, maybe not become HUGE and enjoy the rich life, but at least employ good people, provide for them and my family, and end my life with a clean conscience and nice memories. Ive never wanted for much in life and my expectations havent changed.
Now...now I have to make a decision. Become what you hate/detest/wish death upon or walk away.
Honestly, because I hate most of you almost as much as I hate my government, this is a tough decision.
Absolutely. Detroit is dead. It is most definitely over forever.
Disclaimer: Barring some major technological breakthrough, but I am not banking on this.
For those who do not know, Archer was the first mayor of Detroit to actively seek to re-engage the suburbs to better the entire community, not just Detroit or the suburbs.
He was vehemently detested by black leadership as an Uncle Tom.
Detroit cannot be summed up any different than that.
One can only hope
...and pray
....and wish...
Racial politics are good business, for both sides. Which is why both continue to play that game, here in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, the American taxpayer just got hit with a 50% increase in the national debt and deficits as far as the eye can see. And not a change in the financial services industry, except perhaps further consolidation. And the Congress just fellated the health insurance industry, with leftist progressives trying to convince themselves they didn't just provide a Christmas gift to the evil doers, and conservative progressives bemoaning the death of Medicare at the hands of "socialism."
I hope I didnt come across as saying that the video isnt true, because it is, but omission on the part of journalism is a tacit sin, no matter how low rate said journalist is.
It means one of two things.
Person is ignorant, therefore not worth listening to for any length of time about anything.
Or this person is disingenuous, therefore this person is trying to change political thinking by way of subtle manipulation of facts and presentation.
You decide.
I am not sure if this is sarcasm or not, but I am leaning toward you being serious.And.. i agree with your whole premise of how free trade hindered america.
The Black Slate wanted his ass gone. And they blamed the whites for voting him into office, which was true since he garnered over 90% of the white vote and less than 50% of the black vote.
Detroit residents were so happy when they elected Kwame.
Wedge issue, for sure. Distraction.
...yet you have people singing the praises of the current administration and those who vehemently oppose the current power only because their ideologues tell them they should.Meanwhile, the American taxpayer just got hit with a 50% increase in the national debt and deficits as far as the eye can see. And not a change in the financial services industry, except perhaps further consolidation. And the Congress just fellated the health insurance industry, with leftist progressives trying to convince themselves they didn't just provide a Christmas gift to the evil doers, and conservative progressives bemoaning the death of Medicare at the hands of "socialism."
Quite literally, neither side could be more wrong on just about everything.
Not only wrong about approach and ramifications, but completely wrong as to why the other side is completely bat insane.
Its two mentally disabled quadriplegics communicating to the resident nurse about the guilt of the other. Nurse Commonsense no speak re and is seriously considering pulling the plug on both of them. That or theyre both in on it which requires citizen intervention, nothing else can change our course if this is true.
I wish I could say I was being contrarian for the sake of it, but seriously, if people could just put away their petty political differences for one hot second on a massive scale, 40% of the population wouldnt have to die to really fix it.
I used to work at an injection molding plant that supplied parts for the big three. That company also relocated to Mexico.
Nature of the beast, I guess.
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