Loading ...You’re right. I was employed in manufacturing since 1962. By 1970 I started seeing Toyotas coming in, with Hondas etc etc. Before 1970, you could quit your job and get a better paying one within a half hour.
Newsday used to have three pages of Machinist wanted, and three columns of Precision Sheet metal men wanted, that was me, sheet metal model maker. After a while no more jobs, and hard to get a raise so my 1975 I went for self employment.
There were tool suppliers all over the place too. One time I was in one and I hear the owner on the phone talking to someone from out of state….”You don’t know whats going on down here, everyone is shutting down”
All the people that lost jobs took 40% pay cuts at the next crappy job. Before 1970 high school kids were still buying new muscle cars with three year loans.
Many unemployed started selling used cars out of their back yard. But anyway, I spotted the beginning of the USA decline right after 1970. I kept telling my friends to avoid buying anything imported after 1975. 1945 to 1975 we were pretty well off. I guess we deserved it for bailing out stupid Europe on WW II.