Manufacturing jobs

Washington has a tin ear when it comes to understanding public concern over job losses. It seems the election climate (hostile) has made Democrats focus on manufacturing job creation and retention. Their latest?  "Make It in America," a chamber of comercy moniker that Republicans quickly derided. Two sides of the tin ear are evident. The Democrats' failure to date to make more public gestures at preserving good manufacturing jobs, and the Republicans making fun of the issue when they do. During the last decade we lost 5.6 million manufacturing jobs. (17.3 million in 1999, 11.7 million today). Even if it is a trend that cannot be turned around, failing to try is not a politically viable option, and mocking attempts isn't either.