We aren't losing our manufacturing base - it is gone - almost extinct.  I was looking at photographs of the manufacturers in Philadelphia PA between 1860 - 1960, Philly was once the leading manufacturing city in the U.S. The Baldwin Co. manufactured more locomotives than any other company in the world. There was an incredible amount of manufacturers, large and small, now all gone. Desolate drug wastelands , or factory buildings turned into trendy condos. Funny you should mention that. Not sure about locomotives, but I was on a train line in Tokyo once (the Keihin line, I believe) and at the end of the carriage I noticed a small plaque that listed the name of the manufacturer of that carriage. While the name escapes me, the location was Phila, PA. The carriage wasn't one of the newest and best, but it was fully operational and in good working order. Goes to show you that we were exporting heavy industrial items to Japan through the 1960's, and that they are still working today. The quality was there, and the Japanese definitely take care of things.    We could grab this former manufacturing prowess back if we can get rid of the Israel Lobby, Federal Reserve and the Wall Street crooks. While I'm at it...toss all the turd worlders out too.