What's possible in 'new era'?

Gazette Editorial Board

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Welcome back to Cedar Rapids, President Obama. We're anxious to hear more about your vision for a “new era of American manufacturing with more great jobs and more products made in the USA,” as your advisers told us to expect today when you visit one of our local industries, Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing.

We appreciate your interest in Iowa, where your successful presidential campaign took off with a victory in our 2008 state caucuses. Where you made your first campaign stop to pitch your plan to transform America.

Expect some skepticism from us about your “new era” vision. After all, the United States has lost about 6 million manufacturing jobs since 2000. Increased world competition, especially from China, and the global economic recession that began in 2007 are major reasons. Many economic experts say we can never get most of those jobs back.

The Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor hasn't been immune to domestic manufacturing's challenges, but we certainly have fared better than many areas of the country. Various national publications and research tanks, for example, recently ranked Cedar Rapids among the nation's top 25 in high-paying jobs, affordable housing, best value for living costs and relatively low unemployment - even while we recover from this city's worst-ever natural disaster, the flood of 2008.

Certainly, the federal government has assisted the recovery, and we also benefit from ongoing federal contracts. However, our diverse industries - a balance of high-tech, agricultural, financial and manufacturing companies - and our work ethic are the biggest factors in our success.

So, Mr. President, we will not be easily impressed. We want to hear more about your vision, especially the specific plans that would support it.

We hope your message is not simply a campaign speech following your State of the Union address last night. Eastern Iowans don't want more of the political rhetoric that so many politicians on both sides of the aisle too often mistake for what we really long to embrace: What's possible and practical, and how do we get it done for the good of the nation.

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