I fear one of our largest problems is that we have sent a good portion of our manufacturing base overseas. That has cost us jobs and income (which lowers consumer demand), and tax revenues for local, state, and national governments. Additionally, it means we have to import a significant portion of our parts and finished goods which helps support the economies of other nations but actually harms our own as it makes our balance of trade and current accounts deficit untenable, thus destroying the dollar and taking much needed capital overseas.
I wonder if our economy can recover without the lost manufacturing base.