Herman Cain is the latest of the GOP presidential hopefuls to come out with an economic plan. He helpfully breaks it down into three simple steps for us:

1.    Production drives the economy.
2.    Risk-taking drives growth.
3.    Measurements must be dependable.

Unfortunately, his entire “Economic Vision” manages to completely avoid using the word “manufacturing.” He takes the simple, tautological statements above and uses them to support the same regulation-slashing, tax-cutting snake oil that Republican candidates have been pushing for decades. It doesn’t work, it doesn’t create manufacturing jobs, and it doesn’t put our economy on solid, long-term footing.

The President, meanwhile, seems to be content with looking like he’s pushing for manufacturing jobs without actually doing any of the heavy lifting. Hopefully, the American people will demand better from the candidates and the President, and will let them know the issues that matter to them.

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