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A sobering reminder of how far the west has fallen. I would put in that in the merchant shipping area, we have done it to ourselves with union scale everything.

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The evisceration of our Merchant Marine was the perfect storm between owners, unions and guvmint; they couldn't have been more effective if that had been their intent.

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Thank the Jones act. That has also played hob with inland shipping as well. Much of the rust belt got that way because of the Jones Act.

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No, the Rust Belt was created by skyrocketed energy and regulatory compliance costs. Decline of water shipping began with the first railroad, and accelerated with roadbuilding, especially the National Defense Highway Act.

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Shipping by water is far cheaper than railroads. The additional costs of shipping had a serious effect on the rust belt. It was not the only thing, but it had serious influence as well.

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We ship commodities on water, but not finished goods. There's a reason why economic development enthusiasts say Ohio is 24 hours away from 60% of the US/Canada population by truck.

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