Long-term economic planning

Beginning with Reaganomics and really ramping up with dubyanomics, this part of the long-term plan has succeeded wildly:

"The United States ranks behind every industrial nation except France in the percentage of overall economic activity devoted to manufacturing"
www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/business/economy/21manufacture.html?_r=3&scp=2&sq=general+electric&st=nyt

Now, as Americans we need to ask - WHY is this a good thing? Why do we want to support efforts to decrease manufacturing in the United States? Many Americans think it's a great idea, as evidenced by their support of those who push hard for that agenda. I, for one, do not. I think an increase in manufacturing would be better. That is a big reason why I am vehemently opposed to the new conservatism and the Republican Party.