Answered By: Jeff (weseye) Wesley - 11/30/2010 |
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In regard to our Wal-Mart culture, I think the problem is that large numbers of Americans are bedazzled into believing that because all the goods at Wal-Mart are made by slave labor in China and sold for rock-bottom prices, that they are therefore a bargain.
This is untrue. If you buy a Chinese power tool from Wal-Mart for half of what an American tool would cost, but the Chinese tool breaks after three hours of use, you have obviously lost money, not saved any. And when you throw the busted tool onto the scrap heap, you obviously haven't helped the world's ecological situation either.
I think people need to become more aware of which kinds of things can actually be made very cheaply and which can't. A pair of Wal-Mart rubber wading boots might be a good value, but not a pair of dress shoes. A toaster might be OK, but not a weed trimmer. Stilton wrench, yes. Spring-loaded socket wrench, no. Plastic mixing bowl, yes. Paring knife with plastic handle, no. Etc., etc. etc.
As for the bigger economic picture, I don't think it is ultimately in the interest of any nation to become isolationist. The particular problem for America is that our strength has always been technological invention and the creation of other kinds of intellectual property. Unfortunately for us, intellectual property of any kind is easily stolen by unscrupulous governments or corporations. Therefore, our best bet is to become closer to and more interdependent with other nations, so that things like copyright laws are actually respected.
Answered By: A STAUNCH Character - 11/30/2010 |
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I always try to, but it is hard to find anything manufactured in the USA. I can't even find socks or underwear made here.
Answered By: old fart - 11/30/2010 |
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It is nearly impossible to find anything of quality that has been made in the USA at an affordable price for the bulk of the population. Even raw food, processed & packaged foods which are items that we all do & can get at a fair price now - are gradually going up in price. As a result of our higher labor costs, the import / export imbalance will continue to gap. We have become a consumer nation since we are not competitive at manufacturing just about anything of average to better quality. We are addicted to quick bargain buys, over consumption and unable to delay any type of satisfying our national "wants". The only way things would change is extremely drastic - such as much higher sales taxes to slow down individual spending. Not something any one of us would ever elect. We are a country that live beyond our means and much like kids with free rein in a candystore - are waiting for a higher power to cause restraint. It will not happen.
Just my observation & opinion..
Answered By: ConansOwner - 11/30/2010 |
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I will never stop buying foreign goods never and I dont care if jobs get shipped out of the US I am planning on moving to japan or the UK
Answered By: MyDogSone - 11/29/2010 |
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I will buy U.S. made products once they make something useful to buy. Were not the one's stocking the shelf's with those products. They are already bought, we are providing jobs here for the people who work in the stores in which we buy from.
Answered By: ? - 11/29/2010 |
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I would if American made goods were available but I'm afraid that if we stripped our stores and shops of imports, the shelves would be empty. American business owners aren't interested in making/producing consumable goods. They're only interested in making money and they can make more of it if the products they sell are made in a foreign sweat shop. .
Answered By: Kay - 11/29/2010 |
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If I see something made in another country I defiantly will not buy it..younger kids do not understand what is going on in our country but when they do it will be too late..=(
Answered By: ***You Go Girl*** - 11/29/2010 |
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There is more greed than patriotism. People will continue to buy the cheap junk and let our Nation go down. Patriotism has not been taught in the public schools for many years. We have a generation of people who just don't care.
Answered By: Malcom - 11/29/2010 |
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In every recession,The "Buy American" thing pops up.And in good times everyone wants the cheap foreign products.These days,everyone knows what the problems are but no one any solutions.
Answered By: Daniel - 11/29/2010 |
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I have definitely stopped buying Chinese goods as there have been so many reports on paint with lead and so forth. I am not willing to let importers prosper while our children and citizens suffer from poisons and lead products.
Now, I have to agree with others that we cannot get good products produced in the United States anymore. In fact, many of our US born companies are sending the labor abroad! Cheap labor, means higher prices.
There is no fairness in our products anymore and things are made with less quality. Just simply bad business to pay for foreign workers who make almost nothing and then charge us a very pretty penny, only to find that there is a button missing...etc.
Source(s):
Made in the USA and am imperfect too.
Answered By: gaillee01 - 11/29/2010 |
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You make some very good points, but there are some things made in other countries that cannot be produced here at the same quality for the same price. I believe in fair trade with companies that deserve our consideration. I do avoid buying anything made in countries that exploit labor and have unfair trade practices. I would rather we produce and sell products on the international market rather than restrict imports. The balance of trade requires and two-way flow of goods. Commerce tends to create good relations with other countries in ways that governments cannot.
Answered By: Suzianne - 11/29/2010 |
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When people wake up & stop allowing churchs, drug companies, right wing media to brain wash them we might have a country that functions well. Right now it is pretty hopeless. & how can we possibly know what is made in the USA. You can buy one product that has different components from different places.
We have republicans in the area I live in who bought up neighborhoods so they could bring in hispanic illedgals to work for them & pay rent to them for their houses they bought.
So I think it is to late unless people wake up soon. Bush ruined the country & the only way it is not going to be completely dead is if democrats figure out how to get the republcians to see that the people the elect are only in it to have favors done from the friends they are helping in high places. So NO, I can not worry about what I buy. I have to focus on getting what I can afford.
Answered By: life flow - 11/29/2010 |
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Sure. But is Walmart willing to buy American made goods to sell to us? Your idea might seem simple and patriotic but it is actually illogical and irrational. America is part of a global market. We are not doing a very good job competing in that market. You want a better America and better Social Security, get America to start being an effective member of the global markets. Employment rates will go up and Americans can then pay more in to Social Security.
Answered By: Snipe Hunter - 11/29/2010 |
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Yeah, but where do you find things that are not foreign made? Almost everywhere you go all they seem to sell says 'made in china'.
Answered By: Prunella Potts - 11/29/2010 |
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It's a good idea. I agree. And in theory it's great. But in practice it's a bit harder. On a limited income a lot of things are made in china and no where else. I try, but am not always able to.
Answered By: pansyblue - 11/29/2010 |
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The Family Guy is excellent in regard to exploding these myths. Last night's show, which was a repeat, had Rush Limbaugh brainwashing Brian Griffin into the "right" way of thinking. It was quite funny. Brian moved in with Rush and immediately replaced all of Rush' appliances with US made ones, all of which promptly broke. This show insulted everyone - foreigners with our jobs, President Obama, the far right, American workers, even musicals.Very funny. But I digress. I shop at WalMart. I have to because I have to watch every penny, and WalMart is cheaper on most items I need month to month. And you can hardly find anything in WalMart (the great American company) that isn't made in China - anything. What's a poor senior citizen to do? I would love to patronize the mom and pop stores, but I can't afford to. And you have to figure that a lot of foreign cars like Toyota are made right here in the USA. It's just too confusing. If you've ever bought any electronic device that had you call customer service - only to be speaking to someone with an Indian accent - then you are part of the problem, too. I'm using the generic "you", not you specifically.
Answered By: handyman - 11/29/2010 |
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We always try too buy Australian made goods, and if possible Western Australian goods and if at all possible from business's in our area.
Answered By: MUSHMAN - 11/29/2010 |
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No No and NO.
I, too am on limited income now and must do the Wal- Mart/Target shopping in the majority.
But If financial situation different- as it once was - I would buy more European/ Free Market products.- not China - Mexico -India
one major reason is the QUALITY !
So tired of taking products back or saying the hell with it and tossing and I am including US made products here !
Buying only US products is not going to protect SS and Medi-Care---soooo far past that
The Icebergs are starting to roll over....we must not get sucked under...this statement does not relate to the ecology btw
Answered By: aredsailjunk - 11/29/2010 |
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I live in a small town. It is hard enough to even find the goods I need to buy, without having to go that further step to make sure the goods are all American made. I don't think I'd find the things I need, that way.
Answered By: Monty - 11/29/2010 |
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I have looked to see if the things I want are made in China. I won't buy anything from a country who for years has been trying not only to kill me, but my babies and pets too!! They have child labor and a communist stranglehold on their poor people.
Answered By: Eileen - 11/29/2010 |
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I do not believe that it just younger people who are bargain shoppers; young, middle-aged, and older people all shop for the lowest price. As long as so many of us want inexpensive clothing, household products, and other items; then it is unlikely that we will be willing to pay what it costs to manufacture these things in the U.S.
Most corporations are interested in making a profit. Just like we consumers are addicted to low prices, shareholders expect profits; and manufacturing costs matter more to shareholders than where things are made.
We do live in a global economy. I am more interested in ensuring that our trade agreements are equitable-that the U.S. exports nearly as much as we import.
I don't believe that "Buy American" campaigns do very much to rebuild manufacturing and production in the U.S. These sort of campaigns reject competition; which is what drives capitalistic economies; and I don't see how we can say competitive markets are superior except for when it hurts us. I am far more interested in building on the things we in the U.S. do well.
Rather than try to teach today's young people to "buy American"; I think we'd be better off teaching our young people about ways to prepare themselves to compete. We need to support both American Innovation and also local artisans and food producers. Our kids need to be able to work with automated manufacturing plants, be comfortable working with technology, be critical thinkers, pursue engineering, chemistry, biology, and other sciences. Supporting small businesses is another way we can help the U.S. economy grow; instead of buying American we'd be better off buying local when possible.
American do buy American products when those products are of high quality and affordable. We'd be far better off if we focused on producing quality products in an efficient manner than spending time on a buy American campaign. American workers do have the capacity to compete in a global market; and I firmly believe that these buy American campaigns undermine efforts to innovate and produce quality.
Answered By: SandwichGeneration - 11/29/2010 |
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