Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm: "'Cracking the Code' to Keeping Manufacturing Jobs in America"

[pampango]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-m-granholm/cracking-the-code-to-keep_b_664287.html

Fortunately, sometime along the way, people began waking up.

There was rumbling in some boardrooms that things needed to be done differently. Worker representatives took crash courses in reviewing P&Ls, SEC filings and org charts. And American voters decided they needed a president and federal government that would jettison the old theories of laissez faire, supply-side and hands off -- and weigh in on the side of American workers and the U.S. economy.

While we won't be able to keep all labor-intensive manufacturing jobs in America, here's what we're finding out: We can keep skill-intensive, advanced manufacturing jobs here. We're now seeing the first real evidence that we're "cracking the code" of what it takes for advanced manufacturing to stay and grow in America. Today, as President Barack Obama visits two major auto assembly plants in the heart of the Motor City, he'll hear the heartbeat of the American economy starting to pound. The patient is alive!

At General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Chevrolet is building its hottest -- no, coolest -- vehicle in its lifetime, the new plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt that'll hit dealerships this fall. A few miles away, Chrysler is cranking out its new Jeep Grand Cherokee. That new Jeep, which its CEO tells me is "flawless," is not your father's Jeep -- it's designed and powered for fuel efficiency and economy.

These two plants help tell the story of the auto industry's turnaround. A year ago, they were either idled or sat static, waiting for bankruptcy issues to be resolved and the economy to improve. But they also tell the story of what it takes to keep and grow manufacturing jobs in the United States. The old hands-off model didn't work. The new model requires a different mindset and new partnerships among the companies, labor and government. And we don't have to endure bankruptcies to do it.

**snip**

So I heartily welcome President Obama to Detroit today. We in Michigan know that without the wise choices he made just over a year ago by restructuring and supporting these companies, there would be no celebrating here today. The nation's manufacturing backbone is stronger as a result. And in the process, we have a better idea of how to crack the code to keeping manufacturing jobs in America... without having to go through bankruptcy.

[MineralMan]

1. I'll be the first to recommend your post.

I hope there will be many others. There is good news out there. We need to focus more on it. It will help in November.

[mdmc]

3. 2

r

[Lochloosa]

4. 3

[mdmc]

2. the code has been cracked for a long time

fair trade
it is all right to have a part of the economy "protected" as part of our national defense. Add a carbon tax and international workers rights, and you will have a strong domestic base. It works for Europe and everyone else..