[cangrande]

Precisely, there has been a habit amongst commentators during period's of recession to trot out the need for protectionism. During the 1980s Japan was the biggest threat, leading to all sorts of political pronouncements and movements, and now it's China.

[jeremytliles]

And the replacement of our manufacturing base by Japan and then China is not an issue?

[cangrande]

I don't think it is an issue, plus I'm not sure if it's accurate. Setting aside the automobile industry there are still some extremely successful manufacturing companies in the US.

Eliyahu M. Goldratt wrote an interesting book on the subject in the 1980s.

[jacoblyles]

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/dfunderburk/428/readings/Th...