That is a quote from me when I was asked about a project I managed some 40 years ago. Most hams have or had a working life outside of ham radio. A few hams got a chance to do both simultaneously (Art Collins, Bill Halligan, Al Khan, Gerald Youngblood, Jim Millen, Leo Myerson, Herb Johnson). [Collins, Hallicrafters, Ten Tec, FLEX, Millen, WRL and Swan/Atlas]
My work experience involved managing large construction projects associated with developing high tech manufacturing facilities ranging from a VLSI Microelectronic Fab to the Apache Helicopter plant. Thus, I have a feel of how long it takes to bring such facilities online. It isn't 3 weeks.
In the case of the VLSI Fab and my quote, it was over 3 years before chips were coming off the line. The facilities are very sophisticated and much of it involves clean space (Class 10 or better clean rooms) and processes that are simply downright dangerous. Your life revolves around Material Safety Data Sheets.
Then you have the savant engineers who spill a bottle of liquid nitrogen on a concrete floor and essentially destroy the floor. One thing you try to avoid -- no construction in a certified Class 10 clean space. I think some of those same savants have jobs in the current administration.
The ports are empty of ships from Chine (China) and that has been decried as a really good thing. Well, that would be OK if Plan B was implemented overnight but there is no Plan B and if there were -- 3 or more years would be required before anything would come off the line. The products typically involve electronics and not simply a pair of flip flops made from recycled tires.
This also has another side to it: Skill Sets. Years ago, when the decision was made to put manufacturing overseas, we lost two critical skills: engineers and what I call wrench turners.
If you lived in Southern California from 1960 to 1980 and took a ride down the 405 from Torrance to Long Beach, you saw nothing but manufacturing facilities supporting the electronics and aerospace industries. Take that ride today and those businesses no longer exist. Gone too are the engineers and wrench turners.
So, it is not only an issue with the physical facilities but the staff to support and run the plants. There is no magic to simply wave a wand and make it happen. World War II and the several years before Pearl Harbor, that infrastructure was being developed on the Torrance - Long Beach Corridor and post war, the facilities and people were in place as we began the 1950's renaissance. It doesn't happen in 3 weeks. The ports are empty!
Who actually believes we are on the right path?
Just look at the space available just behind the circular dial. It is just begging to have the Bargain Basement Makeover using the JF3HZB dial.
Them that know can make it go.
73's
Pete N6QW