This is a time of testing for the so-called Rust Belt, the Midwest manufacturing region that got hammered in the 1980s. Now, with a more diverse and productive job base, the region could show a resiliency that would bode well for the whole country. There's no denying, however, that the current downturn has been steep for the Midwest. It's still more sensitive because of its reliance on durable goods. As a result, once-abundant overtime hours are being cut, and inventory is backed up.
Mortgages are no longer so easy to pay.
This was a major loss. But people are trying to help. On the surface, at least, Iowa appears to be maintaining its economic health. State economists predict that growth will slow in the coming years but remain positive. Unemployment for January was just 2.5 percent, officials say, meaning that Davis and other workers who lost their jobs will have good likelihood of finding another - though they may have to settle for a lower wage.