National Association of Manufacturers CEO hits road to promote American exceptionalism

Some uplifting business news for a change? Applause for American know-how? Yes, indeed. National Association of Manufacturers president and CEO Jay Timmons has begun a nationwide tour that actually lauds and supports the idea of American exceptionalism. Beginning with Indianapolis, he’ll visit 10 major manufacturing hubs in the next three weeks to talk up job creation, policy challenges, economic growth and “lay out the manufacturing strategy for American exceptionalism,” according to advance information.

“Manufacturing is as resilient and robust as ever. That’s a tribute to the hardworking men and women in Indiana and across the country who produce the goods and generate the ideas that power our economy,” Mr. Timmons tells Inside the Beltway, who adds that he only wants to build on their successes and fuel the manufacturing resurgence.

He’ll visit Minneapolis, Detroit. Chillocothe, Ohio and Montgomery, Alabama among other spots. The bureau of Economic Analysis, meanwhile, reports that manufacturers currently contribute $2.09 trillion to the economy, accounts for 12.0 percent of GDP. Oh, and for every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.37 is added to the economy. Hurray for that too. Follow Mr. Timmons’ tour here

Here is an excerpt from Mr. Timmons’ State of Manufacturing address, delivered Tuesday in West Lafayette, Indiana:

“Today, the state of manufacturing is as resilient and robust as ever - and that’s why, once again, America is rising. You see, America’s success depends on manufacturing’s success. That’s because manufacturing is everything. Manufacturing in the United States has succeeded because our industry and our solutions are grounded on four fundamental values - values that also happen to be the foundational and unifying principles of the exceptional country we love.

The first of these is free enterprise: market forces that drive innovation and growth better than any other system ever conceived. The second is competitiveness: our ability to invest and expand markets and succeed in the global economy.

The third is individual liberty: the creativity and entrepreneurship unleashed by protecting, defending and advancing the basic freedoms enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. And the fourth is equal opportunity: our shared belief that every one of us, if given the chance, has the potential to prove we can contribute to the success of our companies, our communities and our country.”