Cool. You go first, asshole. >:(

(Not you, OP, you're cool.)

The factory jobs that existed in post-war America would be a vast improvement over the current service economy, but those jobs don’t exist anymore. Union jobs with high pay, benefits, retirement after 20 years, etc. Those are not the factory jobs they’re looking to create.

Factories are mostly automated now anyway. Rebuilding US manufacturing will not only take years but it will be done in a way that minimizes the actual jobs created. They’ll also still have to compete with factories all over the world where the currency is worth much less and the global price of the end product reflects that.

Post-war America had a strong domestic market and middle class that could afford to buy all the things American manufacturing built. Americans are now buying groceries on layaway and waiting for the sickness or car trouble or new Trump policy that makes them homeless.

They'll enslave every last person on the planet if you let them. You have to fight back, or that's your future. That's everyone's future.

That’s rich coming from a group of people who haven’t collectively worked a single day in their lives.

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FIRST, ASSHOLE.

The USSR had lifetime factory jobs, too.

Yeah you and your kids and their kids... All slaving away in poor conditions, at the same time.

No retirement for the old. Child labor. Shitty conditions with zero worker protections. Low pay to keep you in poverty. All while the rich sit on their lazy fat asses like the parasites they are...

He means while they're still kids btw

Ok, so a few points, from a lifelong industrial OEM technician:

First of all, there's nothing wrong with factory jobs IF your employer takes care of its workers, that's a big "if" but one all the world's workers should take care of, since manufacturing is of course one of the biggest areas of employment and it's not going away anytime soon.

My job, working for an equipment manufacturer, can be quite enjoyable and well paid, again depending on the employer, I'd advice any technically inclined individual to look into it. St the same time, I'd never work as a maintenance tech in a factory, that's usually a very stressful job, with emergency work in poor condition, often pushed to work unsafely because of the rush, on old machines often dirty or in poor repair.
Still, I've seen some people make quite a comfortable position in that setting, so it may not be all bad.

As for pay, I think pay should depend mostly on 3 factors: effort, skill and comfort. Those who work harder, are more skilled and are forced into unpleasant settings should be paid more. If you want a more comfortable job you cannot expect to make more than a good, equally skilled worker who's in noisy, dangerous or disgusting environments, and so on.

I don't understand the intergenerational employment point, that sounds sorta dystopic and has no connection to the rest of the argument.

How bout that American Dream? How bout that upward mobility? Fuck you, Howard Buttlick.

With good union representation, right?

Oh, cool. We're going backwards. That's fun.

Since the New Deal the goal of the capitalist class has been a slow crawl back to slavery. Couldnt do it too fast. Had to take it slow.

No taxes for the rich and businesses. No rights for workers. And eventually No pay or choice for them either.

That beyond all the other myriad failures of this country is why I hate it so much and why I long to see it fall.

And it's all been fully Bipartisan. Republicans advance the goals of oligarchy by leaps. Democrats are the vanguard that protects the rich and the corrupt. They stop all of us from making things better. Social and cultural issues are ephemeral at best. Ultimately unimportant to the oligarchy beyond their utility as a tool of control and coercion. There is no morality involved. There is just greed and corruption.

• Dey tk 'r jerbs!!!

• Ok, here you go, maga listens to its voters, kicked out all the immigrants and imports and is proud to present: serfdom.

• No, not like that!!

This was always the goal. Serfdom in a different package.

I think in a other timeline I'd be very happy working in a factory for my career. Building something or maintaining the systems. Putting in a hard days work and going home feeling proud I did a good job.

Supporting my 2 kids, stay at home wife and owning my own home with only my income.
My kids needs were all met. All utilities paid up, school supplies and toys, fridge always fully stocked.
My job was secure. 20+ years at the company with a competative salary. My job is secure and safe with my union protecting me. Might retire in 30 or so years with a solid pension and a cool 50 at the factory.
No need to get a job after I retire. Just enjoy my time with my new grandkids my children are happy to have in a strong economy.

But. We're not in the fucking twilight zone.
The American Dream was taken from the masses and they want us "back on the line" for pennies on the dollar in profits.

"I make a penny while the boss makes a dime. That's why I sit on company time."

No. We now make a penny while the CEOs make thousands and were left hungry, homeless and sick.

Get the fuck out of here with that shit.

I hope he gets what he deserves.

The children yearn for the ~~mines~~factories.

The Children Yearn for the Mines!

NGL I'm envisioning The Factory as in SCP 001