Made in America

[maat55]

How would you fair under this challenge? What if you had to put everything on your lawn that is not made in america? ABC is doing made in america segments, it is very revealing.

Made in America: Usry Family's Home in Dallas Is Refitted With American-Made Products - ABC News

I believe they had a segment on an american company that makes american flags. I now buy those flags to hang on my house.

What have you bought that is made in america lately?

My peronal belief is that our decline is not completely the fault of the government, it is a lack of national loyalty to american products. I would love to see our country rebound due to american pride and not whine to government for help.

[disneysteve]

I think this is a nearly impossible challenge today because of our global economy. Very little is 100% entirely made start to finish in America. Most items either have raw materials from other countries or components from other countries even if the product is being made and marketed by an American company. And this really isn't even as new an issue as most people think. I always remember by best friend growing up had a 1971 Chevelle, a classic American muscle car. However, the VIN plate clearly said the car was made in Canada.

[snafu]

Interesting challenge, I know in Japan and S. Korea the people buy out-of-country products only if they can't find made in home country BUT they expect the rest of the world to buy made in Japan, Made in S. Kr. Getting Canadian beef into those two countries has been a nightmare for our producers.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I think this is a nearly impossible challenge today because of our global economy. Very little is 100% entirely made start to finish in America. Most items either have raw materials from other countries or components from other countries even if the product is being made and marketed by an American company. And this really isn't even as new an issue as most people think. I always remember by best friend growing up had a 1971 Chevelle, a classic American muscle car. However, the VIN plate clearly said the car was made in Canada.

Where there is a market, there will be someone to fill that desire. If there were a national movement to buy american, IMO, there would be companies attempt to fill that desire. It took years to move away from american production, but we can move back to it.

I'm hoping shows like ABC's will get traction and inform the public as to companies that provide american made products.

[rj.phila]

i appreciate the sentiment or motivation, but i dont see protectionism as practical at all.

how far would you take this? if every US state were a sovereign nation, would you lobby for the same thing?

so if mexico can grow an avocado for 1/100th of the cost that canada can, canada should still grow their own?

your neighbor makes great pies, yours arent so good. you fix locks well, he's kinda bad at it. a work trade doesnt make sense? extreme protectionism undermines the natural specialization that not only a globalized economy allows us, but diversified ecologies provide.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by rj.phila

i appreciate the sentiment or motivation, but i dont see protectionism as practical at all.

how far would you take this? if every US state were a sovereign nation, would you lobby for the same thing?

so if mexico can grow an avocado for 1/100th of the cost that canada can, canada should still grow their own?

I agree. Like it or not (and I'm not sure why not), we live in a global economy. This isn't 1940 anymore. The world has changed. Transportation is better, faster and cheaper. Technology has made it possible to do certain types of work anywhere on the globe 24/7/365. It is no longer practical or efficient for every country to produce all of their own supplies.

There was a time when the US was loaded with factories and manufacturing plants but I don't know that it is even possible to return to those days. The population has grown and spread. Land that was once covered by massive industrial complexes is now residential developments, retail establishments, entertainment complexes and protected green space. If we go back to making all of our own stuff, where exactly would we do so?

[Seeker]

Actually sometime last year I purchased a Simplicity Vacuum to replace my inefficient Hoover.

So far, the Simplicity has been a far, far better vacuum. I think it picks up more dust, hair, etc from the carpets than the Hoover ever did. And the filters are more effective than anything I've ever used before.

Obviously, I am well pleased with this "made in the USA" product. But I'll admit that it's probably the only pure American-made machine we own.

[marvholly]

About 5 years ago I replaced my car. I very much wanted not only a made in America one but also one where the profits would stay here. Honda and several other big car makers do have mfg plants in the US BUT profits can go back to the motherland.

What can be more American than Chevy? BAD choice. Turns out my Impala was made in Canada. It got hung up in customs for several weeks.

[rj.phila]

Originally Posted by marvholly

About 5 years ago I replaced my car. I very much wanted not only a made in America one but also one where the profits would stay here. Honda and several other big car makers do have mfg plants in the US BUT profits can go back to the motherland.

What can be more American than Chevy? BAD choice. Turns out my Impala was made in Canada. It got hung up in customs for several weeks.

as steve has stated, we have BEEN in a globalized economy for decades. the idea that profits-and PARTS-for any one item can go to-or COME FROM-any one country is, frankly, almost impossible. your honda was assembled in US, but "profits can go back to the motherland" how do those profits compare to the hourly wages that were given to the US worker? how much of profits go to patent holders in s. korea? so on and so forth....

[bjl584]

As others have stated, we live in a global economy that is very intertwined and very complex. "Buying American" is more of a political talking point than it is a reality. Think about the number of transactions that occur and the number of interations that take place when you think of and design a product or service, build or implement that product or service, bring it to market, and finanlly sell it. The list of things that occur in that process are nearly endless, and more often than not they are global in nature. It is not just the product or service that you must look at. There is the electricity to run the computers and machines. There are the utilities and maintance costs for the building or factory. There are labor costs, transportation costs, warehousing and logistic costs, system and support, advertising, marketing, service, and on and on and on. To have all of those factors completely take place in America or any other country for that matter is impossible.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Seeker

Actually sometime last year I purchased a Simplicity Vacuum to replace my inefficient Hoover.

it's probably the only pure American-made machine we own.

Is it really a "pure American-made machine"? Are all of the parts and components made in America? Is nothing imported? No raw materials. No electrical components. If so, that is indeed a rare item today.

Originally Posted by marvholly

What can be more American than Chevy? BAD choice. Turns out my Impala was made in Canada.

As I said, my friends 1971 Chevy was also mad in Canada. This is not a new issue.

Originally Posted by rj.phila

the idea that profits-and PARTS-for any one item can go to-or COME FROM-any one country is, frankly, almost impossible. your honda was assembled in US, but "profits can go back to the motherland" how do those profits compare to the hourly wages that were given to the US worker? how much of profits go to patent holders in s. korea? so on and so forth....

And the opposite is true, too. "American" car makers have plants in Canada and Mexico where those "American" cars are assembled by foreign workers. Those plants were built by foreign construction crews and the money paid to all of those employees stays in those foreign countries' economies.

So which is more "American": a Toyota built in the US by American workers or a Chevy built in Canada by Canadian workers?

Originally Posted by bjl584

"Buying American" is more of a political talking point than it is a reality.

Exactly.

[riverwed070707]

Nothing too much to contribute but if we ever have shirts we have to wear for special occasions/events at work, a colleague of mine will send it back and wear his own if it's not made in America...no one has ever thrown a stink about it and just kind of let him do his thing, but I've often wondered how many things he has in his household that are not American made.

[maat55]

My concern is that US companies have more regulations and american workers expect higher wages. The reality is that China is a big outside monopoly. Either americans accept a lower standard of living while competing against the world, or we choose as a nation to support our national businesses in a patriotic manner.

If american businesses have to endure strict rules, why should we not expect our trading partners to adhere to the same rules. If we have a 7.25 minimum wage, why would we allow trade with those who do not? IMO, this is no different than allowing in an unfair monopoly.

[kv968]

Originally Posted by maat55

Where there is a market, there will be someone to fill that desire.

As maat said, "if there is a market"...

Upstate store only offers items that are 100 percent USA-made - NYPOST.com

[Frugal]

I agree with you largely. However, I do not think buying exclusively American will solve all our financial/economic problems as a nation.

[snafu]

maat, the Chinese factories are downloading a lot of man made aspects of work to 3rd world countries like Vietnam and Cambodia so the made in China label isn't wholly accurate either. I notice they are doing much more trade with African nations and as soon as practical more work will be sent there...waaay cheaper.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by kv968

As maat said, "if there is a market"...

Upstate store only offers items that are 100 percent USA-made - NYPOST.com

I happen to believe that americans want to buy american products,IMO, they are willing to pay more especially if the product is of better quality. I think many americans are aware of the concequences of buying foreign goods and will buy out of pariotism.

I would love to shop at a truly all american store. I bet it will be the next mania.

[rj.phila]

maat, you seem to have a pretty "pro free market" perspective, im curious-if there IS a market for this, why do you think it hasn't taken off yet? organic veggies, bmw's-consumers certainly will pay a premium for a better made product.
or do you think that its just a matter of time; that this issue of foreign production is relatively new in our free market?

[rob62521]

To go back to the original question I bought two items marked "Made in the USA" -- Pyrex baking dish and a kitchen rug.

I saw in an article in Midwest Living that there is a store in Barrington, IL, that sells only items made in the USA. I believe the name is Norton's.

[creditcardfree]

I bought a set of drinking glasses at Walmart two weeks ago. The package stated Made in America. I was a bit disappointed in the quality. I bought this particular set because they matched some I bought over 5 years ago. They were even similar in price. However, the inside bottom of the glass is not level and the glass seems thinner. They work and I will use, but they are not made as well as they once were.