Unemployment Surges Across Our Nation as De-Industrialization Takes Its Toll on The USA
July 18th, 2009
Per today’s LA Times online, the top five USA states with the highest unemployment (a dubious honor) are:
1) Michigan at 15.2%
2) Rhode Island at 12.4%
3) Oregon at 12.2%
4) Nevada at 12%
5) California at 11.6%
California has lost 760,000 jobs in the last 12 months as small businesses and manufacturers have closed or left the state. Ironically, the unemployment rate would be higher except for immigration away from California, which historical had been a recipient of folks in previous downturns. Unfortunately, the local and state government has made it a lot harder to run a business here over the years.
These official unemployment rates always understates the true unemployment rate as it excludes those working part-time that want full-time work, have given up searching, etc. Meaning the real rate is closing on 20% in these states.
This downturn is worse than usual, and will continue longer with more pain than natural recessions because of de-industrialization. The last few decades has seen thousands of factories close because of this work being shifted overseas to nations with lower wages, little environmental controls, low worker and product safety standards, etc.
The stimulus plan has been a failure because it creates very little private sector employment. No factories have opened because of the stimulus plan, so how can it possibly succeed in causing more Americans to become employed?
Plus, the hundreds of billions of dollars we ship abroad every year is money that could have been spent here, employing more in the US.
The real issue is trade, and our government’s lack of long-term vision. Every other major nation looks out for their people and imposes real trade barriers to support their long-term growth.
Free trade is only free coming this way. Just try to export something to Asia.
It seems like products being made in the USA is over, but we can make a difference. WE can turn this around by buying American-made goods.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of MadeinUSAForever.com (http://madeinusaforever.com/) a resource for made in USA products.
Saturday, July 18th, 2009 at 12:09 amand is filed under Uncategorized.
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