How Important Is Made In America To You?

1. 72

   crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years ago

   How Important Is Made In America To You?
   
   
   
   
   Years ago before NAFTA and all the American textile jobs being sent over seas there were ongoing campaigns about, " Made In The USA".
   
   Now whole cities in the American south look like ghost towns because the jobs have been sent over seas and all the mills have closed in those cities.
   
   These are American cities that were destroyed by NAFTA and the jobs going over seas.
   
   I don't see the Republicans or Democrats talking about this issue. But it is a issue that should be talked about. The American people should demand a repeal of NAFTA and a cap on how much of any product could be imported.
   
   I know some one is going to run in and say but you don't understand America is now part of the global economy. Well I call B.S. on this. America needs to protect her self and her jobs first and foremost.
   
   I think we should have a cap on every import coming into this country. If it can be produced, grown or manufactured then 80 percent of any product should be required to be made here in the USA. Remember that slogan, " Proudly Made In The USA " Well I do and I support it 100 percent. And I think in a national vote that a majority of Americans would to.
   
   
   

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   1. 57

      Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Uhuh. $3,500 for an iPhone lol
      
      Protect yourself from your own corporations? Don't be silly.

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      1. 72

         crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I don't think of it as silly at all. People were once proud of made in the USA products. The US Government paid out millions on the made in the USA campaigns and then the US politicians sold out America. I think the US politicians who voted in NAFTA should be tried for treason.
         
         America is slowly circling the drain unless something is done to bring back the American dream.

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         1. 70

            Shyron E Shenkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I still try to buy only made in America products. They are higher priced but you get what you pay for: Higher quality.

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         2. 57

            Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Where was your computer made?

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            1. 72

               crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Mark I see your point. I just feel horrible at what has happened to made in America. My computer was assembled in the USA but the parts were made in China.

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               1. 57

                  Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Check this out:
                  
                  
                  
                  Full size image here:
                  
                  http://contentutopia.com/wp-content/upl … ection.jpg
                  
                  It has gone beyond our ability to do anything about it. I bought something the other day that said "Made in France" and - it was the LABEL that was made in France.

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            2. 70

               Shyron E Shenkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Mark, I said I try, but have you ever tried to find Computers made in America. 
               
               I agree with Dale Hyde on this one, but when I buy other things I look for the label made in the U.S.A.

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               1. 57

                  Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Good for you. When the Chinese start looking for things that say "Made in China," and stop buying American cars - let me know how that goes for ya.
                  
                  It's a 2 way street.

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                     Dale Hydeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     One thing I saw mentioned was that China is now using "made in PRC" to get around the "made in China"... PRC is of course People's Republic of China.

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                        Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        I remember when "Made in Japan," was a bad thing.

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                           Any Other Voiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           When I used to go out and buy American flags for July 4th, I would look at the tags on them. Every single one said 'Made in China'. Oh, the irony...

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                           1. 72

                              crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              That is sad indeed.

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                              Shyron E Shenkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb … mp;theater

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   2. 80

      Dale Hydeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Made in the USA is great and I have no problem buying products made in the USA.  However there are many items that are simply better made by other countries.  I buy products that will endure and that are well made.... If that item is made in the USA I buy it, if not, I don't hesitate to buy it elsewhere.  Overall, the majority of electronics are better made elsewhere and we live in an electronic world.

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   3. 71

      rhamsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This situation is entirely your fault! And my fault, and the rest of the countries fault. We continue to elect bought slimebag politicians who serve those that pay them, Big Business. We are under some supposition that the slimebags are there to do what is best for us. When their only desire is to be re-elected and their desire is based on money that they spend three out of five days at the office raising, what could you expect!
      
      I used to buy American made tarps to cover projects outside that were costly but now I only have the option of the Chinese made ones that the eyelets come tinkeling out of the bag before I even unfold them. They cost the same but there is no other suppliers out there.
      
      We are in a great decline because of the greed of individuals at the top are willing to sell the rest of us out to line their pockets.
      
      Term Limits, Publicly Financed Campaigns and Lobbying Reform are our only hope.

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2. 57

   Dame Scribeposted 11 years ago

   It bothers me that our 'richer' nations would take full advantage of the 'lower' costs of production in a foreign nation. One thing I think gov't should do is - if such practices is going to be allowed, then wages to those workers should be equal to what's given at 'home', then outsourcing may not be so popular. jmo

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   1. 66

      innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That'll create more problems, itself an action made because of government intervention in the first place. As the man says, NAFTA, and currency devaluation caused this debacle. Though I do NOT support imposing caps in imports. Why do people have such little imagination? Free trade between countries gives incentive for companies to create better products. When people have the option of buying a product from whatever country that supplies it, they'll tend to buy the best product. If it happens to be from China, it is then the onus on American companies to make products that match or better the Chinese ones. Enforced nationalism is a sure fire way to a naff economy.

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      1. 66

         innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Companies have the right to hire whoever they want, from whatever country they want. If the government wants them to hire in the home country, create an environment that incentives it - violence is not the answer.
         
         Never

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   2. 67

      A Thousand Wordsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed.

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   3. 71

      rhamsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is the great American sellout that the slimebags have perpetrated since the NAFTA idea was first introduced. Big Business gets to cut their costs dramatically while selling at near the same price and pocketing the difference. This may be short sighted as the consumers are getting squeezed out of income and jobs, but big business will just move their operations overseas. China is the next big business frontier with a possible billion consumers to sell to while equalizing our standard to theirs in the process as jobs become scarce.

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3. 0

   JustCraftyposted 11 years ago

   I handmake items in the USA and I believe they are quality goods for a good price.

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4. 72

   crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years ago

   Your statement is very true. I stopped buying clothing at Wal Mart. It takes some doing but I try to buy all made in the USA clothing. The clothing made in China is of very poor quality.

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5. 63

   maxoxam41posted 11 years ago

   Well said. The problem is that the corporations think otherwise. Their interests first, the American people second. Now if we heavily tax any US company outsourcing maybe they will think twice before employing offshore manpower.

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      innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      For whatever reason, companies don't want to hire in the US, and this problem is not going to go away if you tax them for hiring offshore. It might turn out that they'll either hire nobody at all or jack up prices of their products, or both.

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6. 84

   CMHypnoposted 11 years ago

   I'm presuming from this argument that although you all want Americans to buy only American goods, that the rest of us in other countries are  still supposed to buy US exports and buy our coffee and burgers in American owned chains?  You know, so that you can stay prosperous? 
   
   While 'Made in .....' is a nice idea, it is pretty hard to do in a global economy.  Even if you can afford to buy everything from local producers, much of the stuff they will have used to make it/grow it will have been imported from somewhere else.
   
   It's also not much use blaming corporations for using offshore labour/manufacturing in foreign countries, as it is the consumer who has driven this by demanding ever lower prices.  If you want Chinese workers to enjoy better working conditions and higher wages be prepared to pay more for your toys/electronics/whatever.
   
   Trade is what makes the world go round, and even in prehistoric cultures they shipped beads, combs, furs and shells in from other regions.
   
   In the UK a whole load more people would have to learn to like brussel sprouts if we stopped importing vegetables from other countries lol!

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      LeanManposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is not the consumer demanding lower prices that has fueled this - it is purely corporations looking for higher profits and improving figures and share prices etc.. Where have prices gone down because of the goods being imported rather than made in the west??
      This is a shortsighted move that will eventually bite those corporations as wages will rise in China and the other countries as they want to consume what they manufacture also. The prices will then start to rise - what will the corporations do then? Bring back the jobs to the west to save on shipping??

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7. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 11 years ago

   Well, I try to buy a lot of my stuff that is Made in Canada., clothing, food. But the way the world is you can't buy everything made in your own country.

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8. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   Perhaps this is the intent, but I don't see it as the reason for free trade, nor are many of the products quality made.

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9. 60

   jeri741posted 11 years ago

   I like buying local. I try to support local farmers and crafters as much as possible. But there are things that you have to buy that are not American made. If they were I would buy only American made.

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10. 0

    PrettyPantherposted 11 years ago

    I think it is pretty much impossible to only buy Made in America products.  One strategy that furthers you local economy and is quite a bit easier to accomplish:  shop at locally owned businesses rather than big box retailers like Walmart.  The products you buy won't all be Made in America but more of your money will stay in your local community, helping small businesses to prosper, and paying the salaries of your friends and neighbors who will then have more money to spend locally.

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11. 78

    American_Choicesposted 11 years ago

    Governmental regulation is not the answer. Perhaps it could have been decades earlier but as we have seen in this discussion, it is not practical.
    
    What is practical is for the consumer to make an effort - just buy one item American made for the holiday this year. Yes, it will be more expensive but it is cheaper than my grandchildren having to move overseas for a job.
    
    One item at a time, grass roots movement - something we can all participate in.
    
    The local chambers have started a Buy local program. We need to stop driving, stop cyber shopping and start walking to our commercial center and learn their names and support their stores.
    
    We, as consumers, can send a strong message to the top retailer, we want to buy American. What if all the big box stores promoted a tiny section Buy American?
    
    Menards has been wonderful in their advertising campaigns in this regards. Why are not more following? Where is Macy's, where is WalMart, where is JC Penney? Let speak out and support the American made products.
    
    Let's demand cyber space to inform us. We don't need regulation - start asking the retailer, what is the origin of the product.
    
    America - let's band together, we did before in 1776 and we can do it again!
    
    (PS Great question - so glad this was asked - kudos).

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    1. 72

       crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks. It is very important to me. I would like to see Americans demand a National vote on a cap on imports. That could be done to if enough people would step up.
       
       Americans could vote so that 80 percent of any product that could be would have to be made here in the USA. I bet it would pass.

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          Shyron E Shenkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Maybe we could send e-mail, letters to our Representatives that this is what we the people want.  I a all for this.
          
          I like you idea, Tom

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