You know I lost your email address about your trip but will probably find it when have the time and energy.
Remember one of the first things Obummer did was refuse to give tax breaks to local businesses and add those taxes to state taxes and states driving business out then Obummer care that international business could opt out if but they could not. Any start up costs have also gone up as well as regulations. So while international companies were thriving American small business were losing profits not making it worth while. Add all that to internationals that could afford to lower prices out competing with locals and wages either frozen or not making what they did before tightening their belts has caused them to fail. The only recovery it to the stock market and for most part international business who pay no or little taxes in comparison.