The question no one is asking: SHOULD there be manufacturing in the US?

[Anonymous]

Anything that can be done with AI and robots will be done that way no matter what country the manufacturing is located in. So the argument that the manufacturing should be domestic cannot be totally based on bringing back jobs (because we are not going to have people standing at machines and feeding the widgets through them). It has to be something that we need to make here for security reasons (hence the CHIPS Act under Biden). We identified something that is necessary to our security.

We need to be much more nuanced about our tariffs, but unfortunately we have a president who cannot think that way. Therefore China has stopped sending us rare earth metals. So I do think that we will back down from these tariffs sooner rather than later. China's leadership knows how to do nuance and will outplay us.

It's ridiculous to think that we can make everything in the US. Of course we should do some manufacturing, but we should choose what that is carefully. We don't need to do everything, yet Trump is putting tariffs on everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:43 is an evil elitist.

Well feel free to sign up for minimum wage in the textile factory…bring your kid.

You and your kid aren’t smart enough to be able to work in a factory. Even automated textiles
manufacturing equipment involves complex machine set up procedures involving hand tools, precise measurements and a working knowledge of mechanical processes and systems. You and your kid probably couldn’t even change a flat tire without assistance. A factory job for you would be like going to the moon.

Well I suspect I am actually smart and precise enough given that I can run a research lab and I have also successfully changed a tire. But, I’m not looking for a job that will get me sick and pay me below minimum wage—I suspect no one in the US is, so have at it, you can be first in line to apply.

However, I think fiction writer is the job for you because your ability to romanticize textile mill work is outstanding.
https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/garment-workers

My mother worked as a seamstress in a jean factory, when they still had them in the US. Not a bad job. Your take on manufacturing is a major impediment. As maybe as Biden says you should try a "humane" approach to manufacturing. What exactly is it you have against working in a factory as opposed to working in lab, and why shouldn't those be good jobs. Ah I know you run the lab so wouldn't know why we really don't like you as an employer. Let's enumerate some of the reasons. Research lab jobs, they are totally unstable. It takes way too much education for the amount of money that you get out of them. The only thing the produce is publications, many of which are bogus to begin with.

Ahhh, so now the woke mob is going to attack the educated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:43 is an evil elitist.

Well feel free to sign up for minimum wage in the textile factory…bring your kid.

You and your kid aren’t smart enough to be able to work in a factory. Even automated textiles
manufacturing equipment involves complex machine set up procedures involving hand tools, precise measurements and a working knowledge of mechanical processes and systems. You and your kid probably couldn’t even change a flat tire without assistance. A factory job for you would be like going to the moon.

Well I suspect I am actually smart and precise enough given that I can run a research lab and I have also successfully changed a tire. But, I’m not looking for a job that will get me sick and pay me below minimum wage—I suspect no one in the US is, so have at it, you can be first in line to apply.

However, I think fiction writer is the job for you because your ability to romanticize textile mill work is outstanding.
https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/garment-workers

My mother worked as a seamstress in a jean factory, when they still had them in the US. Not a bad job. Your take on manufacturing is a major impediment. As maybe as Biden says you should try a "humane" approach to manufacturing. What exactly is it you have against working in a factory as opposed to working in lab, and why shouldn't those be good jobs. Ah I know you run the lab so wouldn't know why we really don't like you as an employer. Let's enumerate some of the reasons. Research lab jobs, they are totally unstable. It takes way too much education for the amount of money that you get out of them. The only thing the produce is publications, many of which are bogus to begin with.

NP here. I don't see factory jobs as any 'less than" office or research jobs in terms of the amount of intelligence needed. But I do see them as less desirable. It seems like much harder work to me with lots of standing. Isn't it also often loud and dirty in a factory? And there are accidents where people get physically harmed?

[Anonymous]

This whole debate is moot. These tariffs have nothing to do with bringing manufacturing back. This whole thing is Trump needing to live life like he’s on a reality show—create problem, conflict, resolve problem, congratulate self, curtain, time to golf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:43 is an evil elitist.

Well feel free to sign up for minimum wage in the textile factory…bring your kid.

You and your kid aren’t smart enough to be able to work in a factory. Even automated textiles
manufacturing equipment involves complex machine set up procedures involving hand tools, precise measurements and a working knowledge of mechanical processes and systems. You and your kid probably couldn’t even change a flat tire without assistance. A factory job for you would be like going to the moon.

Well I suspect I am actually smart and precise enough given that I can run a research lab and I have also successfully changed a tire. But, I’m not looking for a job that will get me sick and pay me below minimum wage—I suspect no one in the US is, so have at it, you can be first in line to apply.

However, I think fiction writer is the job for you because your ability to romanticize textile mill work is outstanding.
https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/garment-workers

My mother worked as a seamstress in a jean factory, when they still had them in the US. Not a bad job. Your take on manufacturing is a major impediment. As maybe as Biden says you should try a "humane" approach to manufacturing. What exactly is it you have against working in a factory as opposed to working in lab, and why shouldn't those be good jobs. Ah I know you run the lab so wouldn't know why we really don't like you as an employer. Let's enumerate some of the reasons. Research lab jobs, they are totally unstable. It takes way too much education for the amount of money that you get out of them. The only thing the produce is publications, many of which are bogus to begin with.

IME, 90+% of what “research labs” produce is paper, to further new grant applications, to fund the research lab’s continued existence. And endless cycle of doing just enough to secure funding.

Occasionally someone (usually DARPA associated) comes up with something useful that makes it to the commercial world (Amarid fiber, the USB connector, Viagra) but mostly running a lab is a funding chase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole debate is moot. These tariffs have nothing to do with bringing manufacturing back. This whole thing is Trump needing to live life like he’s on a reality show—create problem, conflict, resolve problem, congratulate self, curtain, time to golf.

Whatever you have to tell yourself to keep going, I guess.

I find more and more democrats creating cover stories to shield themselves from reality.

I just had a discussion with a leftist last week who told me DOGE would not save us a penny, and that 100% of what they find would be sucked up by Trump/Musk in profits.


You keep on keeping on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:43 is an evil elitist.

Well feel free to sign up for minimum wage in the textile factory…bring your kid.

You and your kid aren’t smart enough to be able to work in a factory. Even automated textiles
manufacturing equipment involves complex machine set up procedures involving hand tools, precise measurements and a working knowledge of mechanical processes and systems. You and your kid probably couldn’t even change a flat tire without assistance. A factory job for you would be like going to the moon.

Well I suspect I am actually smart and precise enough given that I can run a research lab and I have also successfully changed a tire. But, I’m not looking for a job that will get me sick and pay me below minimum wage—I suspect no one in the US is, so have at it, you can be first in line to apply.

However, I think fiction writer is the job for you because your ability to romanticize textile mill work is outstanding.
https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/garment-workers

My mother worked as a seamstress in a jean factory, when they still had them in the US. Not a bad job. Your take on manufacturing is a major impediment. As maybe as Biden says you should try a "humane" approach to manufacturing. What exactly is it you have against working in a factory as opposed to working in lab, and why shouldn't those be good jobs. Ah I know you run the lab so wouldn't know why we really don't like you as an employer. Let's enumerate some of the reasons. Research lab jobs, they are totally unstable. It takes way too much education for the amount of money that you get out of them. The only thing the produce is publications, many of which are bogus to begin with.

NP here. I don't see factory jobs as any 'less than" office or research jobs in terms of the amount of intelligence needed. But I do see them as less desirable. It seems like much harder work to me with lots of standing. Isn't it also often loud and dirty in a factory? And there are accidents where people get physically harmed?

Research labs have features of working in factories in terms of conditions. Toxic chemicals etc. long hours lots of standing operating machines, repetitively processing hundreds of samples. There is a reason they have to get H-1b, it isn't because Americans want those jobs. The perception that factory work is inherently dangerous and undesirable so we should outsource it is inherently limiting, eg Democrats busted the unions with foreign labor, so they can't work for better conditions. So, yeah tariffs are quite popular go figure.

I'm starting to think maybe the Democrats aren't as smart as they claim.

Office jobs aren't plums these days either. There was an article that compared a picture of Meta workers sitting shoulder to shoulder at computers in open offices like the textile workers in factories of yore. Way to go Democrats way to mess up a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:43 is an evil elitist.

Well feel free to sign up for minimum wage in the textile factory…bring your kid.

You and your kid aren’t smart enough to be able to work in a factory. Even automated textiles
manufacturing equipment involves complex machine set up procedures involving hand tools, precise measurements and a working knowledge of mechanical processes and systems. You and your kid probably couldn’t even change a flat tire without assistance. A factory job for you would be like going to the moon.

Well I suspect I am actually smart and precise enough given that I can run a research lab and I have also successfully changed a tire. But, I’m not looking for a job that will get me sick and pay me below minimum wage—I suspect no one in the US is, so have at it, you can be first in line to apply.

However, I think fiction writer is the job for you because your ability to romanticize textile mill work is outstanding.
https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/garment-workers

My mother worked as a seamstress in a jean factory, when they still had them in the US. Not a bad job. Your take on manufacturing is a major impediment. As maybe as Biden says you should try a "humane" approach to manufacturing. What exactly is it you have against working in a factory as opposed to working in lab, and why shouldn't those be good jobs. Ah I know you run the lab so wouldn't know why we really don't like you as an employer. Let's enumerate some of the reasons. Research lab jobs, they are totally unstable. It takes way too much education for the amount of money that you get out of them. The only thing the produce is publications, many of which are bogus to begin with.

NP here. I don't see factory jobs as any 'less than" office or research jobs in terms of the amount of intelligence needed. But I do see them as less desirable. It seems like much harder work to me with lots of standing. Isn't it also often loud and dirty in a factory? And there are accidents where people get physically harmed?

Research labs have features of working in factories in terms of conditions. Toxic chemicals etc. long hours lots of standing operating machines, repetitively processing hundreds of samples. There is a reason they have to get H-1b, it isn't because Americans want those jobs. The perception that factory work is inherently dangerous and undesirable so we should outsource it is inherently limiting, eg Democrats busted the unions with foreign labor, so they can't work for better conditions. So, yeah tariffs are quite popular go figure.

I'm starting to think maybe the Democrats aren't as smart as they claim.

Office jobs aren't plums these days either. There was an article that compared a picture of Meta workers sitting shoulder to shoulder at computers in open offices like the textile workers in factories of yore. Way to go Democrats way to mess up a good thing.

Pay enough and Americans will do the job no need for h1b

[Anonymous]

There are foreign born people in manufacturing, but still 80% of workers who are US born. So it’s a bit of a myth to say Americans are lazy and not working in factories. Now people like Vance benefit from perpetuating that myth bc it’s easier to exploit and underpay foreign born people.

[Anonymous]

Manufacturing Comes Back!

[Anonymous]

Should the US have its own manufacturing? Absolutely. And the critical need for it was seen during the pandemic when we had hardly any domestic manufacturers to make masks and other PPE. We import over $1bil in medical supplies yearly, mainly from China.

But at the same time, as someone who works for a company that produces a physical good for sale, I know that domestic manufacturing is not profitable. I feel like a heel saying it, but we have too many regulations in the US to make manufacturing here profitable.

Even if Trump is successful in getting more factories to open in the US, the cost of the goods output will still be priced so much higher than their Chinese produced counterparts that only those with a lot of money AND high morals will choose a USA product over the cheaper Chinese one.

Most factories in China 24/7 except during Chinese New Year when they shut down for a few weeks. Do you think the US will have workers to run factories 24/7 to compete? Not a chance.

[Anonymous]

Factory jobs used to be good jobs with strong unions. Then the right eroded unions and vilified workers fighting for good pay and conditions and are working on eroding job safety protectionss. If they come back, I am sure they will not be the good jobs of the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should the US have its own manufacturing? Absolutely. And the critical need for it was seen during the pandemic when we had hardly any domestic manufacturers to make masks and other PPE. We import over $1bil in medical supplies yearly, mainly from China.

But at the same time, as someone who works for a company that produces a physical good for sale, I know that domestic manufacturing is not profitable. I feel like a heel saying it, but we have too many regulations in the US to make manufacturing here profitable.

Even if Trump is successful in getting more factories to open in the US, the cost of the goods output will still be priced so much higher than their Chinese produced counterparts that only those with a lot of money AND high morals will choose a USA product over the cheaper Chinese one.

Most factories in China 24/7 except during Chinese New Year when they shut down for a few weeks. Do you think the US will have workers to run factories 24/7 to compete? Not a chance.

However lots of people in power here want to talk tough to China, and even fight them. That's completely unrealistic if they make most our stuff for us.

If you want to remain a relevant world power you have to make real things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should the US have its own manufacturing? Absolutely. And the critical need for it was seen during the pandemic when we had hardly any domestic manufacturers to make masks and other PPE. We import over $1bil in medical supplies yearly, mainly from China.

But at the same time, as someone who works for a company that produces a physical good for sale, I know that domestic manufacturing is not profitable. I feel like a heel saying it, but we have too many regulations in the US to make manufacturing here profitable.

Even if Trump is successful in getting more factories to open in the US, the cost of the goods output will still be priced so much higher than their Chinese produced counterparts that only those with a lot of money AND high morals will choose a USA product over the cheaper Chinese one.

Most factories in China 24/7 except during Chinese New Year when they shut down for a few weeks. Do you think the US will have workers to run factories 24/7 to compete? Not a chance.

However lots of people in power here want to talk tough to China, and even fight them. That's completely unrealistic if they make most our stuff for us.

If you want to remain a relevant world power you have to make real things.

Good lots of factory jobs unfilled right now. When will you get a factory job…to keep America relevant as a world power? Oh you want everyone else to work in a factory but not yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a dumb question. Some manufacturing should be here. Skilled manufacturing should be reshored. We don't need to be making t-shirts and widgets.

That's not what they are talking about though.

I disagree about t-shirts. Local manufacturing of clothing is very nice. Everyone in India and China wear custom fit clothes. When I was in Beijing, I bought a custom fit traditional outfit. We negotiated with the seller we told them we had to catch a train in three hours, they said they would to it. We came back in two hours, and they were snipping the last few threads off. The manufacturing facility was behind the store. I also bought several sets of custom fit business/casual in China. You go to a big warehouse type building. Pick the cloth you want, take to get measured, come back in two weeks custom fit clothing reasonably priced.

Compare that to trying to order custom fit clothing online. Getting measured putting in the numbers, then you find out that the manufacturer has a different interpretation of the numbers.

I would get custom T-shirts if I could, and not just stylized "custom" prints.

And how much did you pay for that service? To get a pair of pants hemmed here is $20+. You think regular americans are going to pay more than a couple of bucks for a tshirt?