re: #465 Talking Point Detective

Manufacturing companies need investors. The way that they have turned, increasingly and to a very large extent, to attracting investors is through financial maneuvering.

What I’m asking you for is some support for this point.

This has been a long term trend what predated the love affair with derivatives. Take a look at the huge increase in debt burdens in the manufacturing sector as a whole.

I gladly would, if you’d show it to me.

I don’t think that it is sufficient to simply look at the employment numbers in the manufacturing sector and to reduce the problem to that by talking about the increase in output as proof that the sector isn’t having big problems. Look at the graph - it isn’t just in the U.S., manufacturing as a % of GDP has shrunk in almost all countries since 1980 - by significant measures.

You’re simply talking about a different ‘problem’ than I am.

I’m talking about the very real problem of the lack of skilled workers jobs in manufacturing, due to automation.

And I’m talking about the non-real, fictional problem that we don’t manufacture anything anymore. That part isn’t true.

I am in no way objecting to the idea that financials have exploded, and that far too much of our economy is wrapped up in their fictitious monies.