For decades the United States prided itself on the power of its industries. The U.S. could outproduce any nation in the world, with the highest technologies and the best quality products. Now, the U.S. is losing its lead in the high-tech arena.

According to the United States Census Bureau, America’s trade deficit grew once again in November 2009. That is not in itself very surprising. However, it is surprising that the U.S. set new records in its monthly imports of advanced technology.

IndustryWeek listed the monthly deficit at $8.3 billion; by far a record worst for advanced technologies. The November deficit passes the previous record, $7.73 billion in October 2007, by more than 7 percent. Overall, our November deficit was a startling $36.4 billion – substantially more than the $33.2 billion deficit posted in October 2009.

There is nothing wrong with high technology, it is a necessary part of having an advanced and prosperous economy. The problem presents itself when the U.S. buys such a huge amount from overseas. We could reasonably produce almost all of our goods domestically, yet we instead opt for the lowest good available. This typically comes from overseas.

Advanced technologies were the backbone of what remained of our economy just a few years ago. Most of our textiles and consumer goods were imported, but at least America still made its own microchips and processors. Now, even those are foreign made.

Most Americans fail to grasp the fact that every good we purchase which comes from overseas is a good that could have supported an American job. Things made here are typically marginally more expensive, but the costs are worth the return.

If we want to have a stable economy, and build some semblance of strength into our job market as we recover, we absolutely must have high tech as a centerpiece. There is no hope of bringing back the millions of positions lost to foreign labor if the one thing that America still does better than the rest of the world leaves our shores.

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