Middle class

America is facing a great opportunity for economic growth similar to what happened when WW 2 started. The country was in a depression and the manufacturing of war materials revived the economy. Unemployment declined from 25% to under 2% while wages doubled during the war years. Companies offered benefits like pensions and healthcare and after the war companies shifted from making weapons to making consumer goods. Union membership was 30% and each year wages increased faster than inflation. These were the Golden Years where America produced the largest middle class in history. The government helped with worker protection and oversight of both government and corporate power. Today as manufacturing jobs are coming home the situation is much like it was in 1945. New plants using the latest technology along with AI will offer high paying jobs with benefits and the government can help by reducing regulations and promoting unions. Schools should direct attention to preparing students right out of high school for manufacturing jobs. Foreign policy should be promoting United States not about making other countries into little Americas. The emphasis must return to manufacturing (making things) and away from financial (making money by moving money around). There will be a movement towards production plants and away from hedge funds. As students learn that future jobs require reading skills and wages increase the gaps in education and wealth will begin to narrow. Workers will once again be able to live a decent life much like they did in the 1950’s and the middle class will once again become part of the American Dream. Happy Thanksgiving.