How You Can Help Restore Some U.S. Manufacturing

Once the most powerful manufacturing base the world had ever seen, and supplier of many millions of U.S. jobs, outside of military industrial complex manufacturing at taxpayer expense, much of the U.S.'s manufacturing base has been shipped overseas over the last 30 years. Even U.S. nameplate cars are often "world cars."

With a great compassion for Chinese and other foreign workers, I buy plenty of their goods but I also buy U.S. made as well, often going online to do it. As I write this, my shirt, jeans, jacket and socks were made in the U.S. by U.S. workers.

Last weekend in Santa Barbara, I went into a popular apparel shop packed with merchandise in its 15,000 square foot store.* In speaking to the store manager, I asked whether much of the apparel was U.S. made and he replied "very little." He explained that most people are trying to save money and it would cost them more to buy U.S. made, something most customers ignore to get the cheapest price. He said some U.S. made products the store can no longer get because now the U.S. production has been shut down.

In a cordial way, I replied that just as he and his sales staff would need jobs [were they not employed there], other Americans need jobs too and if he doesn't offer U.S. made product, there are fewer jobs. He agreed and said he would speak to his buyer about selecting more U.S. made products that would appeal to customers.

I know many U.S. manufacturing jobs are not coming back for it is far more profitable to manufacture in low wage nations, including those with no protection for the well-being of their employees or having to meet U.S. environmental standards. But Americans can salvage some jobs and bring some others back by asking retailers to carry some U.S. made products and by buying them. If they cost a little more, it is for a good cause and one that touches every American.

Dick
*Store square footage is my guess. 15,000 square feet is about the size of 15 average U.S. homes combined. 2 other notes: I drive a German car is one note and the other note is that one of the largest U.S. auto parts makers is being rescued by Chinese investors and the Chinese government, according to an article I read last week in The Wall Street Journal. Unlike the company's former U.S. owners, the Chinese are investing in top technology to make production highly efficient and they are hiring U.S. workers.