The Rise And Fall Of Saipan

Once the ultimate globalization success story, the island of Saipan now faces one of the fastest economic collapses in history. After suffering a harsh history of military struggles, as well as a temporary economic boom after becoming a U.S. commonwealth, the island now stands devastated.

Saipan's economy exploded as U.S. garment manufacturers such as the Gap, Wal-Mart, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren took advantage of cheap labor and absence of shipping quotas. In 2005, the World Trade Organization lifted these international shipping quotas, leaving Saipan with scores of empty factories, rotting shopping centers and former factory workers turning
to the sex industry for survival.

Adam Yamaguchi visits Saipan to document the rise and sudden collapse of a tiny piece of America.

"Vanguard" airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. "Vanguard" pods are also available on Current.com/Vanguard.

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Comments

[cylindar]

I hope Saipan finds a way out and up, and I think they will.

[balickistan]

the image of the rusting tank is rather apt. we basically have no industrial base outside of making arms. how long we can last as the modern rome with heavy dependence on arms, is anyones guess.

unfortunately i don't think much will change. the advisors that obama has are the same people that have allowed our shrinking manufacturing base. as for buy american:how? we make what? stock derivatives, chubby teens and bad porn. not to be flippant but i don't see the future.

[Konnie]

agree w/morpheus­008.......­......i still have my job at an auto part supplier..­....(and can't even feel good about that because i feel so quilty watching my co-workers getting laid off - and i could be next) my company did exactly what this writer is talking about,shipping whole manufacturing lines and jobs first to mexico, then to scotland, then to the czech republic and china. along the way there were plants in taiwan, bombay....­........

.....add to that the uproar just saying "buy american" caused with the stimulous package - as if there was anything except maybe a john deere tractor ,still left to buy that
was made in america. we are headed down the road to becoming a third world country faster
than anyone can wrap their head around. its amazing to see mexicans sneaking across the border
the other way, and white color workers returning to their homelands.­..........­.glad i am old, but feel really sorry for my grandchildren.

[Morpheus008]

Maybe this video should be distributed to all republicans on capitol hill and a mass mailing to the globalization faithful in love with righteous slogans. This is a quickening race to the bottom and unless where unless you are an owner... "today's employees" are on their way to being outsourced so hopefully they are enjoying their paychecks while still have one. This undeniable 40 year trend is hardly worth discussing anymore but for its rapid acceleration. This political/ business model has only survived with the assistance of weak, incompetent, and or corrupt political leadership focused on short term yet unsustainable results. This model has flourished and be replicated as long as political and business interests remain aligned...­. of course this has nothing to do with sustainable economic development. We have witnessed the perfected art of chasing the lowest wages across the globe, packing up machinery like a traveling circus and moving it to the next in vogue low wage stop, leaving destruction and hopelessness in its wake at each stop with political interests waxing about moving up the value chain which sadly operates on the same principle. Good work.