Thank you for your thoughtful response, and I agree with you on many points.
One point where I disagree is that you see providing basic healthcare for all to be some sort of “redistribution of wealth” from the wealthy to the poor. I could see your point if we were talking about curved screen ultra hi-def televisions, diamond jewelry, Caribbean cruises, or some other luxury. But healthcare is a necessity — along with oxygen, clean water, food, shelter, and education. We should not leave those who cannot afford astronomical rates for a basic necessity to just die without it. And we do pay when manageable conditions go neglected for lack of affordable healthcare, and they become unmanageable.
I agree with you that we need a replacement for the manufacturing sector. We’re the richest country in the world, and we have some of the smartest brains — as well as a lot of muscle that can function as skilled labor with some training. We could easily be a leader in technology and research, particularly in rapidly growing areas such as alternative energy (an area that not only provides jobs for thinkers, but also installers and other various doers), stem-cell research, and many other 21st century industries. Unfortunately, we have leadership who wants us stuck in a past life, and seem quite content to let other countries be the leaders in these areas.