CNBC’s series “Meeting of the Minds – Rebuilding America”

CNBC’s important new series, “Meeting of the Minds – Rebuilding America,” provides some interesting food for thought on the American economy, its dwindling manufacturing base, and what needs to be done to successfully chart America's path forward.

CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo guides a panel of experts to answer some very challenging questions about capitalism, the American economy, and the future of “Made in America.” Panelists like GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt acknowledge that, in some respects, the country has lost its way. He says confidence in ourselves is needed. He points out that there are a billion new consumers around the globe and the challenge for Americans is to design and engineer products to sell to those new consumers.  He points to some very obvious avenues for job creation that also can serve the nation’s appetite for energy and simultaneously address environmental concerns, raising the question: “Why aren’t we building the next generation nuclear power plants that are safe and proliferation-proof?” (See Green Clean Global Village Update)

Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis talks about “repurposing the economy” – how to find good paying jobs that are “flexible, stable, adaptable,” and also here for the long term. 

Other panelists included Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, Daniel R. Dimico, President and CEO of Nucor Corporation, and John Engler, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. 

"The attitude in the country needs to change. We need to value manufacturing and engineering. We're not getting enough people coming into the industrial base," said Ford. "If we put manufacturing and R&D together, we'll make great things," added Gerard. "But we need a national plan. All the major countries of the world have a plan."

"We've got to be a hungrier, more competitive country and sell our products in every corner of the world," noted Immelt. "We need to turn this country into an exporter again."

The session was held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; university students took an active part in the discussion. GE’s Jeff Immelt hit the nail on the head in advising the young people in the audience to follow their dreams, “do what you want to do, do what you like doing” and don’t worry about making money as the primary objective. The program addresses the future of America as a country that is employing fewer people to “make things” and more and more people to work in the service industries. How can America’s future be assured if we don’t go back to our roots in manufacturing, innovation, and engineering? Thank you CNBC.


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