Bob Lutz, former vice chairman of General Motors has a new book out-Car Guys vs Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business. Lutz believes there is a great opportunity for the United States to regain is leadership as the world’s top manufacturer and exporter. The formula is easy, according to Lutz- America needs to get back to the basics of creating things of value

There is a dawning awakening on the part of most Americans that we cannot maintain the wealth of the nation by being bond traders and lawyers. At some point the country has to get back to work and create wealth through mining, agriculture or manufacturing. There’s a renewed emphasis on being more than competitive with the Japanese and the Germans, especially when it comes to the auto industry. Right now with the dollar where it is and American wage rates where they are, there is no excuse not to manufacture in the United States.

Of course, this needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Lutz was responsible for much of the problems that faced GM and other American carmakers, namely absurd labor costs, pensions, and obsolete manufacturing processes.