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Friday, December 10, 2010

What can replace US manufacturing?

What does the US have to offer its people and the world in place of the constant and inevitable global migration of manufacturing away from US shores?  Where does the future of the US reside? What can replace the manufacturing sector in the US, and not threaten its status as the world’s number one consumers - a status that helps keep the rest of the world moving, but that is unsustainable if the US is to grow?  Can the US change the downward path it’s on today?  

The current and future success, prosperity and growth of the US, its people and its economy can only realistically be found in advancing, encouraging and promoting our inventiveness, our creativity in the sciences, engineering, new technology and mathematics. Knowledge and its continued advancement is the key to a revival of the US. The freedom to openly and honestly explore new ideas, concepts and frontiers has been the foundation of US growth since its founding. Since globalization is a fact of our modern life,  we must adapt to this new paradigm or we will be relegated to third world status within two or three decades. The US is currently on the trail to that third world economic and technological status, but it is not too late to change.  What must we do?

Public policy in the US must be focused toward making science, engineering and math fun and exciting, and must also provide the framework for national standards in compliance with global standards if the US is serious about its success.  Media should help in this regard as well. But where does the US start?  

If the US wants to prove that it is serious about moving forward, then a foundational change must be made nationwide.  The metric system is one of the foundational changes needed in the US.  The metric system is logical and consistent and global in the sciences, engineering, trade and commerce.  The best way to quickly convert to the metric system throughout the US is to begin teaching it exclusively starting with elementary school students.  Within four years of starting this program for elementary students then change to teaching only the metric system in all schools in the nation across the board.  The students will adapt to the change. Do not confuse the issue with other measurement systems or conversion between systems.  Teach only the metric system.  

As for the rest of the nation - within four years of starting on this program, all products and signage in the country should also be converted from the single listing of English only measurements and the dual listing of English and metric to metric only.  

Advancing sciences, engineering, math and new technologies in the US as a replacement for the global migration of manufacturing away from the US requires a concerted effort to lay the proper foundation for knowledge.  Converting quickly to the metric system nationally would be proof positive of US seriousness and commitment in this regard. To do less would aid US decline.

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