US. R & D could become the next "American Industry", and let the other nations manufacture and support it. It is a lot of handwaving which I apologise for, but I think it is possible."

Yes, it is possible- and our advvantage could be what it has always been: Our tremendous tradition of government support for R&D. However, the same lassez-afaire mentality that allows tax breaks for job-exporting is the smae mentality that would squash that.

My point remains the same, though: our economic vitality depends upon a synergy betweeen government and small-scale innovative industrialists. It is this failing that concerns me, especially in the face of countries (India) who have a good track record in this.

"This is a tough issue, and I'm not sure how qualified my views on it are, as I am in an industry that seems to be fairly well insulated from the problem of outsourcing to other nations. "

The "look how many good new jobs we got this month" crowing over on CE amuses me to no end, as in *my* industry (web-tech) there is complete and total decimation- in some regions unemployment as high as 15% in tech, and NO new jobs in the industry, None. Guys I know who used to make 120,000 are now working part-time at McDonalds and going to trade school to learn how to be plumbers.

Davin L

Davin L.