The Fall of an American Rome

This is the story of the de-industrialization of America, written by a Business professor with a background in steel company management who grew up in the city of Pittsburgh and loved its manufacturing environment. The book is based on the facts and aims to avoid any partisan political viewpoint — which is not as difficult as it may seem, since both U.S. political parties support free trade economics.

The story does not single out the union, the workers, management, politicians, or American voters and consumers, since there is plenty of blame to share. Even the economic policy of the country since 1945, which clearly must carry a large portion of the blame, was accepted for all the right reasons. Free trade was to promote world peace and democracy. No one foresaw the ancillary effects of the 1970s on the United States. Yet this approach has brought destruction upon our cities, workers, managers, and country.

If there is a viewpoint, it is one of a love for American manufacturing and those once-robust cities such as Detroit, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Akron, and so many others, that drove forward the American economy.