Made In America: Buy USA

I remember the days when most of what we bought, including clothing, was made right here and employed American workers.

I remember the slogan, "What's good for GE (General Electric) is good for America". I remember my family discussing that it was true because when GE was doing well, they hired people who worked in their offices and factories and those people bought things from small business people like my parents. So yes, it was true.

But now GE has most of its factories overseas and even outsources its customer support. How can that be good for America? Does GE really care any more? Do they ever wonder what will happen to them when Americans lack jobs as is becoming more and more true? Do they think that the foreign workers who are being paid a fraction of what Americans get will be able to buy the products at the same prices that gave them their huge profits?

Great song.

When I worked with the Youth Group at my church I did an exercise with them about the spaghetti dinner they ate at home. I had them list everyone who had a part in bringing that meal to them, from the parent who cooked it, to the grocery store workers, the truck drivers, the framers, the gas station attendants who filled the truck's tank, and on and on.

We are part on an intricate system that needs healthy industry, healthy capitalism, healthy workers and a healthy middle class.

I am not against world trade. While I make no claim to be an expert on international finance or economy, I do understand that international trade is important, not just to the world, but to the United States. A financially strong world is important for peace for one thing.

On a micro level there are things that have always been made in other countries that are better than here. I am a huge jewelry fan and there are techniques that just aren't done in this country. However, there are techniques and styles done by American Indians and others here that aren't done elsewhere. A true jewelry aficionado, such as I am, is interested in prizes from all over the world.

However, buying products from foreign companies, for foreign craftpersons is not the same thing as American companies exporting an increasingly large number of the jobs that Americans have done to lands where they can hire people at a fraction of a living wage. I will give two examples.

Most of the clothing you bought was made right here, often in the South, but certainly in America. The people who worked in the mills and factories were by most standards in a lower social/economic. They were hard working people who lived modest lives, often struggling financially while raising families who also became hard working Americans.

But then companies decided to move their factories to places where they could pay even less. In some of these countries it was legal to physically abuse workers, but non of them required workers to have bathroom break or even bathrooms. They could ship the work over there and have the products shipped back and still make a lot more money. So some of them did it, and then more of them did it and now its hard to find clothing made in the USA. Its getting harder and harder. I will set up a Plexo of the companies that still operate in this country and hope that you will all add the names of other companies you know of.

Computers used to be made in America, some of them. They are now all made in China or elsewhere. OK, I can deal with that, perhaps it would be too expensive to do it here, of course, maybe not. But when I bought my first computer and for years after when I needed help, I got someone somewhere in this country, perhaps Canada. I first Dell was that way. Now? The frustration I experienced with my last Dell is why I am now with Apple. Its so hard to explain something to someone half way around the world, and if this faceless person doesn't help, you are totally helpless. With Apple? Well, the phone support is still here, and best yet, when I really need something, I take my computer and walk to the back of the store where I talk to someone who takes my computer and fixes it while I am there. And better yet, it employs Americans.

So no, I am not against world trade. What I am saying is that we need to work to keep jobs here in this country. That will actually be better for the world, because the reality is that if we fail, the rest of the world will have a hard time to.

First thing was they took out everything that wasn't made in America and then started the difficult search to replace everything, from coffee maker to bed, with American made products.

This link goes to the HuffPo article about the series.

Also go to the ABC News link to see the series.

How can anyone watch this and not feel pride in American workers and not want to help them have jobs?

Look for the union label

When you are buying a coat, dress or blouse.

Remember somewhere our union's sewing

our wages going to feed the kids and run the house,

We work hard but who's complaining.

Thanks to the I.L.G. we're paying our way.

So, always look for the union label,

it says we're able

to make it in the U.S.A.

It will take some sacrifice from all of us to buy American. We will have to look harder for products, we may have to pay more (although not always) But if we don't do this the middle class will continue to shrink and ultimately we will all pay. Can you bite the bullet now for the future of the country and our children?

Will You Start to But American Whenever Possible?

People who have the ability to have their own small businesses are not going want to take sweat shop jobs!

NBC has a controversial show about an American who has to go to India to manage a call center that will replace him. Its funny, its human and you learn a lot about the tricks of the trade. Did you know that some companies train people to sound and act like they come from Kansas, Atlanta and Boston?

Its a good show and frankly, you will still have to deal with some (unless you buy Apple of course) this show helps us see them as being a lot like us, even though they are very different and helps me deal.

Here is a small example, but whatever category and product you select, you can put in American made and they will respond. If there isn't anything, write them and tell them you want more!