An American Renaissance: How It Is Happening, How to Nudge It Along, Why We Should Care

The context for this essay is my modest assertion that the beginning of an American manufacturing renaissance is hiding in plain sight.This renaissance will dominate the next few decades, starting in about 2014.It will be built on a foundation that no one could predict and no leader or political ideology has created.It will be driven by deep trends, both domestic and global, and we cannot stop it.We can slow it down if we are stupid; but if we are smart, this renaissance could enable us to diminish dramatically many of the crises we now see in American life.It will both require and open the way for a new politics.This essay does not represent the whole of my argument.I've been pondering this assertion, which embodies a completely uncharacteristic optimism on my part, for the last two years, during which time, as a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, I've been holding a seminar series called The Next American Economy.I'll describe the full argument briefly, but will focus here primarily on what I describe as the emergence of a new business system.I begin with brief thoughts regarding current conventional wisdom about America and the American economy, and then turn to an alternate view that I've called an American renaissance.I then discuss the new business system referred to above, and conclude with a discussion of opportunities and politics.It won't surprise anyone that my views on American politics are closely aligned with Pogo's infamous statement: "We have met the enemy and he is us." I want to give fair warning that this is an essay and not a scholarly paper.I'm not trying to prove anything but instead offering pure conjecture, and at the moment I have precious little data with which to back it up.I am fully aware that I am violating a fundamental precept: never make predictions, particularly about the future.