Made in America?

[rainplace]

Wow, there was a lot of thought put into some of these posts... gives me a lot to think about. It's late and I want to think on it all before I post. Thank you for the discussion thus far.

Donna

p.s. I had a major hiccup today regarding buying American products. Feed is my largest expenditure each month. I buy soy free certified organic feed which comes from British Columbia and is sourced throughout Canada. I have no idea where else to find soy free certified organic feed other than the one I buy. It was a huge letdown when I realized this. I would much rather help support an American farmer.... or should I just be happy to be helping support any farmer?

No soy or American... that's the dilemma. (not something I'm asking an opinion on, just sharing)

 

[pdsavage]

I try not to buy my stuff new.Buying second hand may not be made in the USA,the money at least stays local.
Yard sales,second hand stores and thrify stores.They all help the local economy.

I just got a realy nice used Maytag washer for 75 bucks,retired vet who sells used appliances from his barn.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

I worked in unemployment. Best way, IMHO, is to keep the TRADE Act of 2009, but instead of taxes paying the bills, the company that takes the jobs off-shore pays every last penny. Punish them more for taking jobs.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
Syntax-Brillian is an American manufacturer or televisions.

 

[maclady]

I have been buying American for quite awhile. I drive my kids nuts when we go into any store now. I have picked up items, checked where they are made and then put them back. A sales lady once asked me why I put an item back and I told her the truth-it was made in China so I don't want it. I even have to check when I buy some products at the grocery now to see where they are sourced from and if it is China they stay at the store and I will buy a different product even if it is a few pennies more. I also live on a budget so doing this isn't always easy. I look at it kind of like this--China has shipped many products to our shores while importing few. There has been way to many issues with their products from lead paint used to contamination so I don't feel we can trust the products. I have found the internet an easy way to find Made in USA products. I used to have Pfaltzgraff dinnerware but sold it to a friend. I was looking for a new set because I finally broke one to many plates of my Corelle dinnerware and found that this company which used to produce in USA was now producing in China--I bought Fiesta dinnerware instead even though I liked a Pfaltzgraff pattern. I believe many times there are choices we can make when doing a purchase and I am trying hard to make my money count. I admit it isn't always easy but I do the best I can. Every little bit helps.

 

[Alabama ee]

I know someone that came here to visit relatives who was from China. He looked in the stores
to find something to take back that was made in the USA. All he found was "made in China".
He told this to me with a great deal of pride. I felt quite the opposite.

I sell personalized coffee cups. Years ago, it was easy to buy USA. Then, all the mug companies went overseas.
Many, many US jobs went overseas with it. Not only did the Manufacturing jobs leave, but so did the ones related to it like shipping etc.

Finally, after several years, there is a company selling USA mugs again. The quality is awesome. They are twice as thick as the China ones.
I am so thrilled. I hope they make it. I have both the USA and the China.

Now, this is happening on another level now. Many of the large chain stores are farming the personalized items to China. This
effects me directly. My small business is being effected. However, they can't beat me on level of customer service, speed or quality.
I am hanging in there.

One thing to think about when you buy something made in China is...when will my job be farmed out to China or business go under next.

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
What a great post.

Yes, finding items made in a America is incredibly difficult. As I look through my own cupboards, drawers, and closets, I am hard pressed to find much made here. It's shocking really.

I realize that there are political and corporate forces that are not conducive to American manufacturing. The breadth of the problem is mind boggling... over whelming. And like many things that are overwhelming it is often easier for one to complain than it is to do anything since it's easy to feel powerless. I hate that. I hate it when I find myself being like that. For me it either has to be okay that manufacturing jobs in America will continue to whither away or I need to find something that I can do to make it different, no matter how small. It either has to be okay that many are unemployed or I have to do what I can to make it different, no matter how small. I cannot sit, complain, and blame while doing nothing, waiting for someone else to fix the problem.

I'm a farmer. Maybe I do not have the money to make every purchase an American purchase, but can't I at least make one a month? How about two? Maybe I do not have the time to find which items are made in America, but can't I make the effort for one item or two? It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Regarding how people think about labor jobs: I use to do janitorial work. I've cleaned a lot of toilets. They sparkled when I was done with them. I took great pride in making things clean for employees or the public. One day an employee was talking to me and another worker (they had the "real" jobs, not the cleaning job) and the lady speaking was talking about how her son had missed a job interview. She said, "It's not like it was a real job, it was just cleaning up." I do not think it ever dawned on her what she had just said. It may have been the first time I was ever embarrassed by the type of work of did.

 

[jennh]

Quote:
Where are you finding mugs made in America? I won't buy one from China 'cause I'm concerned about possible lead in the glaze.

 

[jennh]

I live in Lancaster County, approx 30 miles from Hershey. I absolutely LOVE

York peppermint patties. I picked up a bag to purchase them. I hadn't had one for years, since they moved their Ca. plant to Mexico. I was boycotting them. I turned the bag over and saw "made in Mexico". I put the bag back down, and was ready to be disappointed 'cause I wanted those peppermint patties SOOOO bad. I just happened to look on the shelf above them, and here was a bag of peppermint patties, MADE IN USA!!!!! Halleluja!!!! Pearson Candy Co., St Paul, MN. They are just as good as York. I wrote the company telling them my experience, and they sent me a bag with samples of all their candy. They were all delicious! They said they posted my letter on the bulletin board, and thanked me for purchasing their product.
Maybe Ca. should have kept the company in their state, considering the financial mess they're in now.
I will not purchase any food that does not come from the USA. Buy fresh, buy local!

JMHO

 

[SallyF]

I too am buying made in America whenever possible, and it's not always easy. Last year, Ace hardware had three hose nozzles made in America; this year, only one. It takes me twice as long to shop because I have to read every label to find out where it's made, and sometimes those items cost more, but that's OK.

I also like to buy local. We're lucky here, actually have three independent pharmacies and one of them even still has a lunch counter. Talk about a step back in time! When traveling to visit family, we try to get off the beaten track for meals and find local restaurants rather than fast food chains. That's OK; makes life more of a challenge for two retirees.