Question for DU'ers

[texastoast]

I attended a telephone town hall last night with my congress critter (and a pretty well known economist) who said that the United States is the biggest exporter of "manufactured" goods, but went on to qualify it that it was "high end" products--technology, patents, etc., and we shouldn't listen to the media about how all the manufacturing jobs are gone.

I felt a lot of smoke blowing up my skirt. Does anyone have any links they could provide me that shows "the United States is the world leader in exported goods"?

Thanks!



:toast:

[gateley]

1. I don't have any links, nor do I speak with any expertise, but all I know is that

in my surrounding area (SE of Raleigh, NC) - the manufacturing jobs/plants have been disappearing. I can't speak to technology and patents, but thousands of people found themselves out of work who worked at clothing, furniture, bedding, tobacco, etc facilities, and I believe some rendering plants have shut down, too.

[texastoast]

10. That is the story

I get from all over the country. My rep was very "um, export the high-end stuff." I never got the chance to ask what happens to the folks who are not inventors or tech nerds (with all due respect to nerds and geeks--love ya!).

I wanted to be able to address this post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4190557&mesg_id=4190557

[amdezurik]

2. lots of smoke

my first question would be for him to define his terms, very vague at best.

[kentuck]

3. We export a lof of fighter jets and military hardware...

Maybe that is added in??

[texastoast]

12. I didn't think of that

That is probably right. That pricey stuff adds up quick. Thanks, I'll add that.

[Robbien]

4. We are a leader. But exports of consumer electronic goods are decreasing while

while military manufactured goods are increasing.

http://www.echannelline.com/usa/story.cfm?item=23797

Among the nationwide highlights, the U.S. high tech sector exports totaled $214 billion in 2007, decreasing 3 percent from $220 billion in 2006. High tech was the largest overseas industry export with U.S. manufactured goods comprising 18 percent of total U.S. exports in 2007.

Moreover, the semiconductors sector remained the largest component of high tech exports in 2007, accounting for $50 billion worth of exports, down $2.4 billion from 2006. High tech exports decreased in five sub-sectors (photonics, industrial electronics, consumer electronics, semiconductors, and computers and peripheral equipment) and increased in three sub-sectors (communications equipment, electromedical equipment, and electronic components). The sub-sector that saw the largest decline was computers and peripheral equipment, decreasing by $2.6 billion in 2007. Communications equipment exports, on the other hand, increased by $2.4 billion.

[texastoast]

13. Excellent

This is the kind of stuff I want to send him and his "nationally-known economist." Time to hold these fuckers' feet to the fire.

[frogmarch]

5. U.S. is the world's 3rd largest exporter

and the largest importer - according to Wiki, anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedStates

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Another interesting thing from Wikip*dia ... # of mfg plants in U.S. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Manufacturing_plants_in_the_United_States

That includes:
* 27 states with car assembly plants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Motor_vehicle_assembly_plants_in_the_United_States)
* 7 mints and
* 11 Naval shipyards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_States_Navy_shipyards),
* 13 flour mills (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Flour_mills_in_the_United_States),
* 31 ironworks and steel mills (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ironworks_and_steel_mills_in_the_United_States)

My question is how many did we have before the "Reagan Revolution?"

[FlyingSquirrel]

6. Smoke blowing up your skirt?

I would suggest asking your partner to smoke AFTERWARDS!

:hide:

[texastoast]

11. ...

:7

[malaise]

7. Check here

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_exp_man-economy-exports-manufactured

Check the related stats as well - left column.

[texastoast]

9. Thank you!

I'm going to call my 98% bush brown nose on it!

:hi: