In part, we have lost the power of labor unions...sadly many unions became the very thing workers initially formed them against.
Another issue is the outsourcing of traditional labor ...we are a cheap service community here in America..and I don't see anything changing this decline on the horizon.

**" They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.
There's only one step down from here, baby,
It's called the land of permanent bliss.
......bob dylan