> Your average industrial assembly-line worker is _not_ middle class. They are horrible jobs no-one really wants back, or at least not for themselves.

That's incorrect. Factory work is a ramp from low to middle class. It's low skill on entry but teaches on the job. Long term employees are valuable because they have expertise on the process and are, therefore, more valuable.

Ask Detroit if they want the Auto Industry's manufacturing back.

> Where do you find clean water to fill the pool with?

The Earth is literally surrounded by water. I'm sure people will find a way. Treat the water if needed.

> if you pay them enough to be middle class, your product's price stops being competitive

Tell that to China's growing middle class, not me. We have western corporations shitting all over western values and culture and kowtowing before China and their censorship because they can't afford to lose the chinese market. That's where money is flowing now. It's one of the reasons why Trump wants to weaken the US dollar.