If you were a buyer of Fighter Jets, Drones, Tanks, Ships, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Guns and "Contractors," you would buy Made in the USA because that is what the U.S. still does best, even if it is all at the U.S. taxpayer's expense. But it may surprise you to learn there are large companies such as Honda and Toyota which build some car models nearly 100% in the U.S. from parts made in the U.S. And there are many small U.S. manufacturers who make everything from toys to socks to shirts that need your business. Start this Christmas by giving those American firms at least some of your business.
We wish our Asian brethren continued success but if we are going to resurrect U.S. industry and all of its jobs and avoid defaulting on all of our debts, we Americans must start buying Made in the USA as often as possible. This Christmas for example, what follows is a list of some U.S. toy manufacturers: http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/ At http://www.madeinusa.org/ is a list of other U.S. firms that still manufacture here, including electronics firms: http://www.americansworking.com/electronics.html and firms that make home appliances: http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/appliances.html As I write to you, my shirt (purchased in a specialy store), my jeans (www.allamericanclothing.com) and socks (purchased at Big 5) were made in the U.S.
But even if they could find U.S. made products in the stores, most Americans wouldn't buy them because they are often more expensive. With shipping costs, my jeans cost a little over $50 and I could have bought Chinese made Levis or other jeans for half that price or less. But I received a top quality product that U.S. workers made and they too have families to support. It was worth the extra $25 to help employ them, even if I have fewer jeans in my closet. About 10 years ago, China's president came to Chicago and while there he took the U.S. media on a walking tour with him, saying he wanted to buy U.S. made goods to bring home to his family and friends. By the time he finished shopping and found nearly nothing made here, he pointed out that China didn't shift the jobs overseas, the U.S. multinational firms did. As Americans, we can and must do something about this and now is our chance.
Washington hasn't and won't solve this problem for us. Wal-Mart and Target will carry very few U.S. made products unless they see there is a demand for them. Some of Sears' Kenmore and Whirlpool products are still made in America but what giant retailers see is the demand is for cheap and cheaper as American consumer product plants continue to close. Let's reach out to U.S. small businesspeople, America's jobs engine, and give them our business. What would start small now, like a group of tiny seedlings, could grow into a huge forest of redwoods if only we would support them. And "we" begins with you and me.
Dick
2 comments:
I very much like this post! The American business is under siege as they make products under US laws while products made elsewhere don't face the same restrictions. Instead of calling for a tariff, you are asking for all to simply pay more for American made products which in a sense is a voluntary tariff.
While this will be a difficult movement to begin in a recession and also while large retailers like Walmart stock mostly foreign made goods, it is worth the trouble.
I drive a 2003 GMC Denali and have been very happy with it. There is a sticker of the state of Missouri inside the driver's door stating the vehicle was assembled there. I'm proud to drive American!
I'm on board!
To restore U.S. manufacturing and all of its jobs, will require you and me as Americans to buy "Made in the USA" every opportunity we have when we need to buy products or services.
I say this with all due respect and compassion for our brethren across the world who I hope will understand how bad the U.S. economy is becoming.
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