Countering Conrad

Re: America’s resurgence is reshaping the world, Conrad Black, Jan. 12

Mr. Black makes for an interesting read, but just that. America’s overall employment growth and the unemployment rate are both on the same trend lines as they were under Barack Obama — one going up and one going down. While manufacturing numbers may be up under Donald Trump (some others are down), there’s nothing magical about “manufacturing” in today’s modern world of services. That nostalgia harkens back to the days when manufacturing jobs were generally paid well. Today, service employment also pays well as police, firefighters, nurses and teachers all get paid more than most plant workers. Further afield, many investment advisers, stock analysts and bankers in service industries make more than the new guy/gal does on the auto assembly line. All to say, the increase in manufacturing jobs Black touts is a red herring — we are now in a service world.

As to North Korea being “on its best behaviour” — really? Their leader was just in China, probably working out ways to circumvent the current U.S. sanctions.

As to “the ayatollahs quaking in their voluminous raiment,” has Black been to Iran lately? They are still propping up that evil dictator over in Syria.

Finally, the reduction in American reliance on imported oil is a result of worldwide (ever changing) market prices for the stuff as well as changing technology (fracking), which really doesn’t have anything to do with The Donald. David Enns, Cornwall, Ont.