On of the greatest myths in modern political discourse is that American manufacturing is disappearing. This is far from the truth.

The United States makes more manufactured goods today than at any time in history, as measured by the dollar value of production adjusted for inflation — three times as much as in the mid-1950s, the supposed heyday of American industry. Between 1977 and 2005, the value of American manufacturing swelled from $1.3 trillion to an all-time record $4.5 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

With less than 5 percent of the world’s population, the United States is responsible for almost one-fourth of global manufacturing, a share that has changed little in decades. The United States is the largest manufacturing economy by far. Japan, the only serious rival for that title, has been losing ground. China has been growing but represents only about one-tenth of world manufacturing.

However, it is true that manufacturing jobs have shrunk, and those that remain require skills far beyond that of a shop floor worker from 50 years ago. Today’s factories are computerized, and today’s workers are educated and skilled.

So yes, American manufacturing is strong. It does not, however, employ the masses as it once did, nor will it ever do so again. We must adapt. Another reason I continue to believe that fixing our educational systems is our second highest domestic priority (the first being homeland security).