Made in America?

[Two Creeks Farm]

I dont think folks mind buying from other countries, as long as that product is superior or fits their needs and budget. Its just a crying shame that we (our government and citizens) have run out our factories. When an item can be made overseas, shipped 1/2 way around the world and sold for 1/2 of what we can make it for...there is a huge issue. I make my living with cameras produced in Japan. If an American company produced an equal product I would carry it, even if it were slightly more expensive.

I love this country, would die for it, but the only thing we have been good at making for the past 40 years is trouble and a mess. Republican, Democrat...white, black, green with polka dots...someone needs to stand up and do whats right for the US of A. The old gal aint done, she just needs a new direction.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
well said

 

[jennh]

Quote:

 

[mom'sfolly]

I disagree that it is EPA, taxes, OSHA, Obamacare, ALCU (??????), unions and the like causing the loss of American manufacturing. It is simply cheaper labor, and that cheaper labor comes with hidden costs that most Americans don't want here and don't like to think about when buying their cheaply made products. This includes sweatshop and child labor, environmental degradation on a massive scale, and industrial accidents that make the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire look like a burnt hand. And don't forget about all the tainted food and pet food from China, the companies there were even adulterating infant formula.

Using China as an example....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/world/asia/26china.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/mattel-disney-chinese-sweatshop-child-labor-2011-8

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7330986/Apple-admits-using-child-labour.html

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_48/b4011001.htm

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007319,00.html

Cheap labor and cheap goods come at some pretty high expenses. By some estimates, the costs of environmental degradation in China are 10% of their GDP. No one in this country would take the kind of jobs that make cheap labor possible. If we loosened regulations enough to make those kinds of jobs, the only consequence would be greater illegal immigration.

Americans need to change buying habits and attitudes. A couple generations ago, having 20-30 pairs of shoes would be unheard of, now it is commonplace. A man of my dad's generation might own one or two suits, replacing them when they wore out. People bought furniture, housewares and other things, and didn't replace them on whim. There was no redecorating simply because something else was currently in fashion.

Personally, I think cheap goods, cable news and political theater have become our equivelent to the bread and circuses of the Roman era. A wonderful distraction from the ills of society, and the need to find reals solutions for the problems we face.

 

[ECBW]

It is the common sin of greed that is the driving this. The reason why things are made else where is that we all (well, most) want more for less. It is human nature. The stock holders want the investments to appreciate. The CEOs need to have million dollar pay checks. Politicians need to pay back their donors. Case in point is Wal-mart.

To blame the third world countries for our weakness is cowardly. If it was not China, it would be Vietnam or Mexico or India, where ever slave-like labor can be had.

If you wanna make the world a better place, start with the man in the mirror!

 

[AquaEyes]

I think a major factor is tax cuts on the wealthiest individuals and corporations in this country that have been made over the years. If you are offered increased salary and bonuses as incentive to further cut corners and increase profitability at the expense of American workers, and know that now you'll keep a far larger percentage of that extra money you will earn, you will do what you can to get it. A few decades back, you wouldn't see much of that extra income after taxes, so there would be less incentive. If you do a little research, you'll find that there is a correlation -- as taxes were cut on the upper 5% of the wealthy, the disparity between the salary of the average worker in a corporation and its CEO has grown. To feed those increased salaries (which aren't taxed as much anymore, so more money is retained by the CEO), overseas labor becomes an attractive way to balance the books. I'll have to look into it more later, but it's a thought that's been bouncing around my head.

 

[Royd]

When your choice is between US Gypsum and Chinese Gypum, and all you see is dollar signs, the decision is already made.

Of course, that bottom line doesn't include the destruction of everything metal in your house, due to the offgassing of the inferior product.

 

[wattsjadajoe]

Yep!

Best thing to do is just slim down on buying!!!

I try to buy American where ever I can, it is difficult, even the food is made or comes from another country. I try to buy from the local markets!


Joe

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Yep but if we didn't buy those car ,made there and only those made here, yes check ven # you can tell which are made here, if we wouldn't buy them, they would have to make them here.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

We try to buy American made goods whenever we can. I laugh because my 7 year old looks at everything now to see where it's made because that's what I do.

It's work to find American made stuff, but it makes us feel good knowing that we are buying American.