[tachyonbeam]

Tesla is trying to do exactly what you describe. Build "the machine that builds the machine", as Elon Musk would say.

I agree with you that trying to compete on low-cost, low-margin is a race to the bottom. We could conceivably bring manufacturing of iPhones back to America. I would also imagine that manufacturing of silicon is largely automated, so the US could try to build the best fabs.

[te_chris]

Tesla has done some reverse Chinese equity investment swap thing and is now at least somewhat a Chinese company building manufacturing capacity and innovation in EVs. Musk is a lot of things, and one thing is clear: he’s an opportunist more than a US economic nationalist. He will not be the saviour of American industry.

[kamaal]

>>one thing is clear: he’s an opportunist more than a US economic nationalist. He will not be the saviour of American industry.

Reading this as a non-American. Isn't 'opportunity' the whole reason behind immigration?

If your country relies on continuous supply of heroes and not sound systems and policies, no one single person can save you.

[te_chris]

Hey I’m a non American too, and Musk himself is South African, which is kind of my point.

[tachyonbeam]

Please clarify what you mean by "Chinese equity investment swap thing".

[te_chris]

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4339781-teslas-transformati...

[andrekandre]

> he’s an opportunist more than a US economic nationalist

its called being a capitalist; anyone leaving money (capital) on the table by favoring thier home country will get squashed by those who dont...

[roenxi]

The number of powerful economic nationalists in US history can be counted - if the US is lucky - on one hand.

Assuming that the goal is saving the American industry (whatever that means) - if the plan is 'good people will save it' then failure is already baked in. That plan never works. The plan should be 'whoever saves it will become fabulously and disgustingly wealthy' - then greedy opportunists will save it for you and people can go protest about how greedy they are.

Relying on good people to act is dicey. Relying on greedy people to act is a safe path.