This feels like an emotional take. There are lots of people in the USA who are great craftspeople…but our economy has moved more towards computer technology specialization, because that is where a lot of the money. I’m sorry, but making widgets as a source of GDP is just a phase of most economies, it doesn’t make sense to pay someone here 1$/widget when you could do it overseas for 5c/widget.
I don’t disagree with you that the US seems to be spiraling on the consumption front, and a lot of this is due to an epidemic of advertising.
You can think whatever you like. Just look around. Observe what people around you know.
"it doesn’t make sense to pay someone here 1$/widget when you could do it overseas for 5c/widget"
Why doesn't it make sense? Because you want more money? What do you think will happen long term to our talent pool?
What I have personally seen, and I can only speak from my own perspective is that more and more people offshore and outsource their work. Someone gets good enough at something, and then they outsource it but not domestically they outsource it out of the country. And now those effects are compounding in a major way. Our culture doesn't value craft and we are continually devaluing it.
I don’t disagree with you that the US seems to be spiraling on the consumption front, and a lot of this is due to an epidemic of advertising.