I agree. we are so ready to just 'here it is. I don't know what it is, but here; take it' it's like baking your own bread. . . sure some one else can do it, in a more cost and time efficient way, but it isn't YOUR bread. . (this is more serious than bread, but craig, I getcha.)

nope, no moritoriums of love from me this week.

Nice question, Javert. Thanks for letting me fix this post.

I am mildly concerned about a transition from manufacturing to service, but only because of the requirements of our later generations to rebuild the domestic manufacturing industry. I think that right now and hopefully for my lifetime, a service industry seems to fit our country's needs and skillset (at least until companies like PeopleSoft pop up and "steal" US jobs faster than manufacturing has ever been outsourced).

On one hand, I think that the emerging service economy combined with our current and emerging technologies can mean great things for the global economy. Unfortunately, that has the capability of changing our way of life by moving a lot of capital out of our hands. Is it worth the risk of changing our lives? Morally, yes. Do I want to give up the life I live? Definitely not.. and don't think I'm the only WASP-ish (I was raised Catholic ;)) person who feels this way.

Maybe this transition from manufacturing to service is some sort of revolution that doesn't revolve around a manufacturing process and is instead somewhat of a modern renaissance. In this case, I think that the technology gain (and its inherent industrial acceleration) will advance us faster than our former industrial means and other developed countries.

Perhaps what is happening is for the better. I like to think that this transition will create better jobs than before within this country, but I suppose it comes down to where the money ends up -- if our corporations decide that outsourcing labor is cheaper, then even the service industry will be no longer in this country. ..just one more reason to get a business degree, open a bank, and buy an island to live on :)