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Re:The Decline of the U.S. Machine-Tool Industry and Prospec... by mmooss on Tuesday April 08, 2025 @11:13PM (#43628563)
> We’re not breaking society to create a nation of workshops.

That's what Mao tried in the Great Leap Forward: They tried to shift steel production to a cottage industry in back yards. You can imagine the results.

And also relevant: Everyone learned to say whatever Mao wanted to hear, so they all reported high and increasing production. It turns out that disinformation isn't economically productive, even if it feels that way - you can't make cars out of it.

Re:The Decline of the U.S. Machine-Tool Industry and Prospec... by WalterBright on Wednesday April 09, 2025 @12:58AM (#43629002)
The Soviet Union was famous for imaginary factories cranking out imaginary tractors.