With the downsizing or right sizing as some call it of the United States Automakers one has to wonder how we will be able to replace all those high-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. Did you know that most of the of the General Motors and Ford UAW manufacturing line workers make more than Boeing employees, which make jet airliners?
How on Earth are we suppose to replace 60,000 displaces and laid-off workers at those salary levels? Some say about the only hope as this occurs is the eventuality of fuel prices coming down, emergence of strength in small business thru reduced regulations or re-training for high-tech jobs using some revolutionary learning tools to ramp up fast.
Many believe that they do not see any of this on the local economic horizon in 2006. Other complain that all this is happening as most citizens are 1.5 times annual income in short term debt, not looking so good really. Sixty thousand laid off workers is huge indeed and this is why many feel it could send a shock wave thru real estate, retail and the service sector in those areas within 50 miles of every plant departing the production scene.
Other more optimistic economists believe that this dilemma is fixable, but not short term and not in human terms of standard of living, kids going to college and digging out of debt for those who are without. Some say that small business franchising could take up slack, but the industry is so over-regulated that it is doubtful. Putting 30,000 small businesses thru franchising could be done in those areas in under a year, but we are seeing so many barriers, it is not worth it. Twothousand franchisors putting in 15 units each in those regions is doable actually, too bad for all the over regulation.
Indeed over regulation is what killed the manufacturing sector to begin with as it permeated all sectors which support the manufacturing industry from mining of their raw materials to the abundance of handicap ramps at the dealerships and everything in between. Nobody buys American products in that scenario and we are not fixing the root of the problem that is we attack our own companies here in the United States, with m