'It's devastating'. End of GM in Ohio town as Trump fails to bring back midwest jobs

[Demovictory9]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/23/general-motors-factory-ohio-lordstown

Closing of Chevrolet plant is latest blow in a slow, painful decline in Lordstown – an area that has suffered more than most from the outsourcing of jobs overseas

For years, the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, employed 8,000 workers in the Mahoning valley.

In a rust belt region that has become synonymous with industrial decline, following the closure of its once mighty steel mills in the 1970s, the presence of the Chevrolet factory in Lordstown, and its well-paid manufacturing jobs, was particularly important.


'A kick in the stomach': massive GM layoffs leave workers distraught – and angry

Then, late last year, GM abruptly shut the plant. The company had already scaled back workers at the Lordstown plant, and this closure saw 1,500 workers, the last of the once huge workforce, out of their jobs.

“I think it’s devastating,” said Mark Sweetwood, the managing editor of the Vindicator newspaper, which serves the Mahoning valley.

The news was just the latest blow in a slow, painful decline in this area. The rust belt was a boom area at the start of the last century, but has suffered more than most from the outsourcing of jobs overseas. Stories of places like Lordstown abound in the midwest, and the angst and anger here is something Donald Trump was able to tap into in 2016 and that helped propel him into the White House.



The closing of the Lordstown factory came after GM said it would cut 14,700 jobs across four plants in the midwest and Canada. That announcement, in November 2018, was in stark contrast to Trump’s election pledge to bring back auto jobs to the region.


Today the plant, which looms behind a “Welcome to Lordstown” sign at the entry to the village, stands as a testament to the hollowness of that promise. In mid-August it was possible to drive into the complex, where huge parking lots – once full of new cars, but now completely empty, with brown weeds growing from cracks in the concrete – stretch as far as the eye can see.
“I think it was the last holdout of our industrial age.”

[sakabatou]

1. We warned you about the con

And what did you do? Fall for it.

[samnsara]

2. they got what they paid for.. my heart does break for the smart ones tho...

[Demsrule86]

12. I worked with the union in that plant during the last election...most were Democratic supporters

boots on the ground-worked their asses off...some I had worked with for the last ten years...seriously the replies on this thread make me ill. The fact is we have no path to the presidency without the mid west as it stands today...unless we win Wisconsin particularly and PA and MI as well, we are toast in 20. So maybe a little respect is in order for the hardworking folks in Lordstown who had their lives ripped apart by outsourcing...which is not limited to manufacturing these days.

[napi21]

35. I respect the GM workers and my heart goes out to them for all their losses. I knew, as did a lot

of others, the BS the Con was spreading in his campaign was a BIG LIE. However, there were a lot of people in PA. who believed him. Former steel workers, who are either still unemployed or grossly underemployed believed him out of desperation. I feel very sad that I was right about Conman but I will not rub it in with the "I told you so!" They're all suffering too much already. My sincere hope is that those people ALL VOTE in 2020. Even if you aren't crazy about whoever the Dem Candidate is, it's imperative that all we Dems VOTE and get that JA out of office! He's already done so much damage to our Country already, we can't let him continue to do so for another 4 years.

[captain queeg]

37. My brother in law retired from Lordstown. They are all union supporters, which means Democrats

I saw all those guys who worked at that plant in PA recently that were paid to stand thru Trumps speech. I don’t think many union guys have bought Trumps BS. I too see a lot of posters insinuating all those blue collar workers support Trump. I don’t think many. Their bosses however...

I’m going back there for a visit in October. Be interesting to hear whatever. But I’ve had the impression for several years Lordstown has been slowly dying for a lot of reasons. I don’t think many longtime auto workers expected it to survive. It was state of the art when it was built in the 70s. Way ahead of the many older plants in the region. I interviewed there when I got out of HS. It’s really a perfect illustration of America’s fall from worldwide dominance in manufacturing. The Repugs use the fall of domination to sway a lot of fairly uneducated people to believe those days can come back. Not going to happen for myriad reasons. I’d put Trump in that category. I think he really believes we can turn back the clock. It’s getting harder and harder for him to find allies who actually believe that. But I think a lot of people who grew up in that area and have a pretty narrow world view are sold on the idea.

[TheBlackAdder]

16. Priorities!

.



.

[ck4829]

3. "Despite the strong economy" I'm sure, right?

[obamanut2012]

4. They voted for him in 2016, and they still will

I have some relatives in those areas of OH and PA, and they love him, and blame everyone but Trump and reality on why they don't have jobs anymore (ie automation). A deplorably bigoted bunch are my relatives and their buddies.

[Demsrule86]

11. Trump is underwater in Ohio...if Biden is the nominee, we have a good shot at Ohio...Biden secured i

for Pres. Obama both in 08 and 12.

[The Genealogist]

5. But he's really owning them thur libs and shaking things up

[UpInArms]

6. Gregory Mankiw, GWB's Economic Advisor

"Outsourcing American jobs will prove to be a plus for the economy in the long run. It's simply a new way of doing international trade." ~ Greg Mankiw

[FiveGoodMen]

18. "a plus for the economy"

He doesn't mean a plus for working people.

He means that the portfolios of the rich will be plus some more unearned money.

And slave labor in other countries will be used to bring slave-like conditions to Americans.

[gratuitous]

7. Democratic candidates: A suggestion for where to campaign

It sounds like some voters in Lordstown might be willing to listen to a campaign message that offers these people something for their troubles. You might lead off with the string of broken promises a certain Republican foisted upon these anxious and angry people, promises they believed and trusted and that blew up in their faces like a cheap novelty cigar.

[Demsrule86]

9. Mahoning county went for Hillary...so maybe you shouldn't be so disparging there were good people

there...hubs worked there at one time...and there have been suicides, foreclosures and the usual heartbreak associated with plant closings...you think moving jobs overseas is limited to manufacturing but it isn't...and everyone will pay the price in the end. But at the very least, you might have researched Mahoning county and how they vote before you wrote what you wrote...and the mid west will play a huge role in choosing the next president...so maybe a little sympathy and less contempt is in order.

[Demsrule86]

31. They are willing but not if we look down on them and offer no solutions for their problems...

We have to do better. And we are screwed if we don't look at a map...take out the Mid West states and try to get to 270 with a realistic approach...it can't be done.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

8. Had enough yet of all that "winning," Lordstown?

Here's hoping the reality is sinking in. If Ohio is to be won again it will require that population (or at least a good part of it) to come to its senses.

[Demsrule86]

10. Come to their senses? And what might that be? Ohio has not done well under any administration with

bad trade deals and jobs moved overseas. This is why they fell for Trump's lies. Perhaps, an attempt could be made to send help to the mid west with a manufacturing plan that includes new jobs -maybe green jobs- and not just during election years either.

[luvtheGWN]

13. That empty parking lot which one held cars

as far as the eye could see, could now be turned into solar panels, as far as the eye can see.

[Volaris]

17. Or better yet, a solar panel factory, owned and operated by the Dept of Energy

[Demsrule86]

29. solar panels are being made cheaply in China these days...cheap workers are

in demand with the new tax cuts and shitty trade deals...that has to end.

[brutus smith]

14. Ohio voters contributed to this mess

They (we) voted for Reagan twice. This was the beginning of the end.

[Demsrule86]

23. Actually the only plant going strong, union...parts made in Ohio or the midwest is Maryvsville

Honda...which came during the Reagan years and is still providing good jobs...the real trouble began in the 70's under Nixon and Carter too...and really was exacerbated during Bush 1 and the beyond. Ohio is an important state...and we have no path to the presidency currently that doesn't go through the rust belt...it is fashionable to sneer at the middle of the country and blame them for their situation...but it is unfair and actually hurts our efforts to stop the GOP by winning in the Mid West...look at an electoral map and you will see that without the rust belt...we lose in 20 and beyond. Any Democrat that runs on reparations and health care for undocumented folks without offering any sort of help to the rust belt is going to lose the general.

[Demsrule86]

27. Most states voted for Reagan...he had a landslide the second time...

[Demsrule86]

28. Well keep talking until Ohio turns red.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

21. Yes, come to their senses.

Because, these people voted for a racist, xenophobic conman with zero intelligence and even less experience for the job he was handed. If they somehow weren't able to perceive all of that, I seriously doubt their ability to appreciate the subtleties and nuances of global trade agreements, or an intelligent discourse on manufacturing to zap them out of their cult-like stupor. Even if plan or proposal were to improve their lot in life. That was the intent of the ACA, and how did the (soon-to-be) Trumpers react to that? By screaming their throats bloody and railing against it with every fiber of their being, and voting for the yahoo who said he'd dismantle it.

Having said that, I absolutely believe we need those things, desperately, and not just for Ohio, but for all the manufacturing sector. Unfortunately, I just don't believe an intelligent candidate speaking to exactly those concerns will mean a damn to them. YMMV.

[Demsrule86]

24. Then we lose as we have no path to the presidency that doesn't run through the rust belt.

[Demsrule86]

33. And what you mean is our candidate won't be chosen in a way that appeals

to the Mid West...Biden can win here...maybe Bernie but the rest no way. They will lose the general in the rust belt just like in 16. So decide if you want a pure candidate or to kick Trump out of the white house.

[Caliman73]

38. Why not Warren?

She has the same message as Bernie and a much more populist one than Biden. What is the factor that would keep Any other Democratic candidate except the 2 you mentioned from winning the midwest?

[Demsrule86]

43. She will lose the rust belt...blue wall states. And we lose the election...not about

policy but geography...I doubt Sanders could pull it off...but he has ties to Wisconsin...which Warren does not so he is the hail mary of candidates if for some reason Biden doesn't make it...she is way too left for the moderate to red states we need and doesn't have ties to the blue wall states...and will end any senate hopes and possibly we lose the house too- in short a disaster for us...40 moderates gave us the house...not progressives. Democrats will vote for her but it won't be enough without independents and some Republicans.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

42. Who said anything about a pure candidate?

Or Biden? The Midwest is not a monolith. There is an element within in it that I believe won't be swayed from their ignorance no matter how grand the plan presented. That was my only point, Of course Job One is kicking out Trump. No one is disagreeing with that and we all want that.

[Demsrule86]

44. Well if that is true than we lose every election until Texas and Georgia turn blue

because we have no other path except the rust belt to the presidency...As for giving up on voters...the Mid West is not where you should do it...consider we have Senators from both PA, MI and WI who will also be affected...how you think we ever gain a senate majority again...I suggest you look at an electoral college map and see how dire our current situation is and it will get worse if we give up on voters. 50 state big tent strategy is our only hope and Biden can win the rust belt...and restore the blue wall.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

46. Ok.

No one's giving up on anyone not already gone. But, it's futile for me to say that, or seemingly anything at this point. From jump you've done nothing but put words in my mouth and defend Biden from a non-existent attack you somehow still perceived. Maybe it's the primaries that have some so on edge and going for the knives when they sense any attack real or imagined. If such an innocuous post can incur such snark then I'll spend my Saturday conversing elsewhere. Have a good one.

[JCMach1]

15. GM making a huge mistake in killing cars like the Cruze and Volt

You will pry my Volt from my cold dead hands...

Best car GM ever made!

[Demsrule86]

25. I love he volt.

[Duppers]

19. K & R

[KentuckyWoman]

20. I am honestly stunned

Unions and manufacturing have been under attack for 40+ years. Workers were blamed from the start. To see that sort of nonsense on DU is frustrating.

[Demsrule86]

26. I find it frustrating too...and do you think that the mid west will turn out for folks who say these

things?

[Takket]

22. The OP is basically the commercial the Dem candidate should be running in 2020 in Ohio

[radical noodle]

30. I have a friend who worked in that plant

She was devastated when the plant closed after she'd worked there for years. Fortunately, she was given the opportunity to work in the Corvette plant in Kentucky and has just moved there and started working. It's difficult for her, leaving family and friends and ripping up her roots to go somewhere new.

[Demsrule86]

32. I know folks at that plant...it used be pretty good.

[radical noodle]

36. Good

I hope she can be happy there.

[JI7]

34. this is why we need the wall

[lunatica]

39. I feel bad for anyone who loses their job

Especially like this, by having plants shut down, plunging entire towns into unemployment. This only adds to their angry misery. There are lots of older workers who can’t hope to start over in other work. Most companies won’t hire them because of their age.

It just sucks.

[Captain Stern]

40. This thread is a fair example of why we lose elections in places we shouldn't.

Four out of Ten voters in Ohio voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

I think they voted for her because they thought that having Hillary Clinton as the President of our country would be better than having trump. They were right.

But, we've got people here shitting on them like it's a sport. Seems to me that moving that 4 to a 5 or 6 should be somewhat of a priority.

Instead, we mock them, and revel in their misery....even though almost half of them are on our side.

Then in 2020....we'll be wondering "How could they not vote for our candidate?!?" We told them over, and over, again what a bunch of morons they were and how bad their state sucked....and they STILL didn't vote for our candidate????....WTF?

[samplegirl]

41. So sad

I live here and I’ve seen the devastation. Many peopl left family separated because the wife worked here and could not lose her seniority so the husbands left.
This has been horrific.
Sadly there were more people that were not employed by GM happy to see them leave!

[kentuck]

45. If Democrats want to win Ohio...

...they would be living in Lordstown. Hold Trump and Republicans responsible for their words and promises.