Editorials

There’s no denying it, America’s manufacturing sector has faced more than its share of tough challenges through the past few decades.

Each year, some of Maine’s most exceptional students are chosen to attend one of the United States military service academies. One of my greatest honors as a United States Senator is having the opportunity to nominate to the academies these exceptional students, many of whom will be our nation’s future military leaders. The nomination process is again under way.

There’s no denying it, America’s manufacturing sector has faced more than its share of tough challenges through the past few decades.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, July 6, 2013, a freight train carrying more than a million gallons of crude oil was sent hurtling toward Lac-Megantic, a small, picturesque Canadian village located only 30 miles from the Maine border. The train derailed in the center of town, leveling several blocks and killing 47 residents.

Exactly 100 years ago, Henry Ford shocked the business world by doubling his workers’ pay. Predictions of the collapse of the business were heard and his competitors were furious. But Ford understood that the ultimate success of his business depended upon customers who could afford to buy his cars – and he wanted his workers to be among those customers. And so it is today – our economy needs customers, workers with enough take-home pay to buy the goods and services that make our country run. I think it’s time to take a lesson from old Henry Ford.