>What Chuck is describing is how whole industries have ceased to
>exist in the U.S.
I've been hearing that about steel for years. Doesn't make it true though. Although I think I agree with Chuck about the view from California being skewed. Kaiser Steel's plant in Fontana, California was bought up by China like it was a yard sale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_steel_producers
http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA3008/