I'm kind of an old timer at 61. I am young enough to still have hopes and ambitions while being old enough to have over half a decade of experience. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, with the state of the country being so chaotic, about how we got to this sad, uncompetitive position.

This is not a Liberal or Conservative mud-slinging blog. The problem in my mind is deeper than modern politics although it is related to the foundation of the greatness of the United States. We were founded and the industrial revolution flourished under the entrepreneurial spirit that flowed throughout the land.

My working experience began in the late 1960's. I had just returned from a tour of duty in the US Air Force and was set to return to college to study engineering. If you remember during that time Aerospace hit a recession and engineers were plentiful so job prospects were not so good. I then changed my major to business. After one semester I stopped and entered the work force. I would get my degree later. I took a job as a field technician in Los Angeles with a major office equipment company. This would use the engineering education I had prior to entering the service as well as the electromechanical skills I learned in the Air Force.

I poured my heart out for that company and in return it gave me proper promotions, security, vesting in a retirement plan, and most importantly it paid for my undergraduate and graduate degrees that I did at night. The employees of this company were loyal and contributed to the greatness even more as I moved into research and observed the genius of the minds that were assembled and propelled this company into a world-wide leader in digital technology. Several other companies were doing the same and the competition was fierce and fun. Technological breakthroughs were common and different companies would congratulate each other upon announcements. This spirit was contagious and other countries were starting to adopt this cooperation of employer and employees to propel their technological achievements. Most noticeably during this time period was the advancement of Japan's contributions.

Then it all went terribly bad.....

It was a slow decay, hardly noticeable at first. Benefits were diminished, attention to customers suffered, 401K's started replacing retirement programs instead of augmenting them, and the giant killer in my opinion EMPOLYEES WERE EMPLOYED AT WILL!

This means that employees can be terminated at any time without cause.

The loyalty disappeared quickly, rampant turnover occurred, employees are more worried about appeasing their bosses than doing what is right for the company. Sick days became Personal Time Off executable by the hour. The pride and loyalty was gone as well as the top standing in industrial leadership.

Can it be recovered?

I don't know... If some progressive companies could start new with a group of employees who understand what happened and are passionate about rekindling the powerful dynamics that these partnerships brought, then maybe there is a chance. If these can really be partnerships of company and employees ( not bargaining units) for a prosperous competitive endeavor then there might be a chance.

I hope I see in my lifetime a return to the greatness that American Industry and Research once enjoyed.