I bring up the GDP only to point out that some graphs with scary numbers don't really mean much. I don't think "GDP go up" means the middle class isn't getting fucked.

Broadly, I agree that we should manufacture more. I just think that the jobs aren't "coming back", and framing it that way leads to people arguing along political lines. I'd be interested in seeing more of a breakdown than the charts I posted above. Which manufacturing industries have kept growing in the US? Clearly not electronics, as you point out. I like your tax-based proposal, though.