Actor John Ratzenberger to appear at Des Moines manufacturing forum

It’s a little known fact that John Ratzenberger, the actor famous for his role as trivia-loving mailman Cliff Clavin on “Cheers,” believes that the loss of American manufacturing jobs is the top issue facing the nation today — an issue that affects everyone and lies at the core of what Americans are. Ratzenberger would know, too. He grew up in Bridgeport, Conn., a manufacturing town. He had family members who worked in manufacturing and himself worked as a house framer at one time. Now he hosts “Made in America” a show on the Travel Channel that showcases various manufacturing facilities around the United States. Ratzenberger sees the loss of American manufacturing as the most important issue facing the nation. He talked about it via a ph