Hoping for change
On the day when the country goes to the polls, regardless of our various political views, it must be hoped that whatever government emerges from the process appreciates and supports manufacturing industry.
Those who have championed the need for government support for industry over the years have not met with much success. It has been encouraging, then, that this election has at least seen the major political parties at least addressing the issues facing this sector and giving some hint that they see manufacturing as offering some solutions to the financial problems facing the country.
Of course, it could be argued that such talk is simply lip service designed to attract much-needed votes and there is certainly a grain of truth in this. Another way of looking at it, however, is that in a sector that has been largely ignored by the political elite for decades, even lip service is better than nothing.
And who knows? Maybe - just maybe - we can hope for some real action this time?
