Do we REALLY want manufacturing jobs?

Manufacturing jobs and the wealth of a country are quite connected, its a vicious cycle of good if its done right. People work more, they make more money, if they make more money, they buy more stuff. Which then leads to increased production which hires even more people.

We can either have $10 toasters, or we can have $50 jobs. You cant have both! There have been some good times in the last 20-30 years where there was still a lot of manufacturing here, while at the same time plenty of cheap imports. But if people only want the cheap imports, nobody is going to make the good stuff which provides jobs here in the US.

A point lost on many of my modern Union worker Brothers and Sisters.
On the one hand they want good paying jobs and on the other hand they will often call up the cheapest SoB non-Union scab to come and fix their plumbing, electric, or AC when they go on the fritz.
Then they wonder why other Union members aren't jumping in line to defend THEIR Union jobs when they come under attack by employers seeking to emulate the practices of those non-Union low-ballers.

Sad but true, solidarity now seems to mean get behind me when I am suffering and go back to your own crib when it comes time to pick my pocket in return.
The major reason behind the decline of the American Union job.
Selfishness and an unwillingness to reciprocate when the call comes for solidarity to protect what we have - NOT "cheaper foreign competition wages".
It's the Wally World syndrome, no regard for quality in a disposable society anymore.

I sometimes feel a bit foolish because I always hire Union, & my wife is always reminding me they aren't returning the favor in most cases.