Our Exceptionalism
By Tim Hartigan, MCM President 2009-2010
It’s a great time to be in the metalcasting industry in the USA. No,
seriously. I know. I know. There are about two dozen extra-legislative
initiatives being pondered, contemplated, amalgamated and gift wrapped like
a pair of chartreuse wool mittens that your Aunt May knitted for you. You
are not going to like the rules or the mittens, but you have to be polite to
Aunt May. I know there are people who hope to stay up later than you in
order to stealthily deliver the new rules under pretense of a deep emotional
hook like, “Think of the kittens.” or “What? You don’t like babies?” But
don’t despair. It is a great time to be a manufacturer in the USA.
Yes, there are some folks who feel that you, the
one who has risked sweat and savings to give a few folks a good job and make
a difference by making things, are really a greedy tycoon intent on
extracting the last breath from your underpaid employees. Don’t despair.
Don’t ignore them either. Speak up. Make your voice heard. Get involved in
whatever way fits your abilities.
Pay no attention to your friend that tells you the
dollar is going to zero. He’s had something crashing and burning since he
could play with blocks. Yes, gold, copper, tin, nickel and pretty much every
other metal gain a little or a lot weekly. No worries. It is a great day to
be a foundry person in America because we are in America. We have run into
problems before. I know they tell you it’s different this time. It’s always
different this time. No, it’s really not different this time and it wasn’t
last time either. Here’s what is different. Americans are different. It has
always been so and always will be.
There are many things that make America different.
Our brand of democracy. Our staunch defense of free speech. Our resources.
Our people. Our education level. Among so many exceptional things, perhaps
the biggest thing that differentiates us from the rest of the world is
culture. Our culture creates our attitude about risk and success. We believe
something could go right. Our culture encourages collaboration and
innovation. We drive decision making down to the lowest level. We are most
comfortable with change. We embrace risk. The poorest among us can become
the wealthiest.
Ever since Eli Whitney we have been at the
forefront of nearly every technological innovation in world. Look around you
today at the technologies that have driven change. The repeating rifle. The
remote control. The microwave oven. The iPhone. The CCD, UAV and GPS. There
are tens of thousands of ideas and innovations that drive America. There are
millions of Americans that change the world every day. That is why everyday
is a great day to be working in American industry. Our dollar will not go to
zero. Our industry will not be shuttered by rules or economic distress. And
our innovation will not cease. No economic event and no ideology driven
bureaucrat can turn off America. We will not stop dreaming, inventing,
building, and risking because we are hardwired to do it. And if anybody
tries to stop us we are hardwired to ask them to please step out of the way.
Reprinted from the Spring 2011 Metalcasters of
Minnesota Newsletter