Are We Too Late?

A hot phrase among the economists  and analysts who analyze the Rust Belt is "post-industrial."

This implies we have reached a tipping point at which advanced economies will dramatically reduce manufacturing activity and jobs (although output may not drop as far)  and will focus on service, health care, research and etc.

When NAFTA was passed we were told the displaced manufacturing workers would soon enough be moved to high value service jobs (apparently this meant pushing shopping carts around the parking lot of Wal-Mart).

Does the post-industrial mind set dominate Washington, guaranteeing policy hurting the Rust Belt?

Are Donald Trump's policies to bring back manufacturing jobs just a fantasy? Will Hillary Clinton's new found populism make a difference?

Can every Rust Belt city be like Pittsburgh?

Does anyone outside the Rust Belt really care?