Manufacturing’s Decline Threatens National Security, House Panel Hears

[Purveyor]

US can't produce enough ammo to supply police, troops: expert

The hollowing-out of the US's industrial base means the country is risking its national security by being dependent on foreign contractors, experts told a congressional panel Wednesday.

The House National Security Oversight Subcommittee heard from a number of economists and labor leaders who argued that the long, slow erosion of American manufacturing has led to the US losing its edge in numerous industries that are vital to national security.

"We have allowed our industrial base to deteriorate for the last two to three decades. As a result, just in national defense terms, our supply lines for strategic parts and materials have been stretched around the world," said Jeff Faux of the Economic Policy Institute, as quoted at CNN.

Bob Baugh, the executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council, told the panel the US has already lost its leading positions in such defense-related industries as semiconductors, advanced materials and aerospace.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/manufacturing-decline-threatens-national-security/

[closeupready]

1. I remember the response to those who made this argument during NAFTA's discussion.

The response was something like, "if we don't get what we need/want, we have bombs to talk for us."

:mad: Such a violent country we can be.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Well, Duh

Really? If this country had to fight a real war we would quickly find that we couldn't even manufacture our own socks and skivvies. Oh, well. Whatever.

[county worker]

3. Hell we can't even manufacture enough ammo for the citizen vigilantes out there!

I here there is a 3 month backlog of ammo orders due to gun owners feeling the need to hoard ammo for some reason.