Made in America

[maat55]

You really think America's "decline" is due to the fact that not enough people are "buying American"? You need to dig deeper. It's not that simple and it misses the larger point.

Feel free to enlighten us.

We have an unemployment rate over 9%. IMO, it is not solely due to the crisis. In the last four years, the minimum wage has increase from 5.25 to 7.25 per hour.

The unemployment rate for those under 25 has increased substantially. Our country is moving further towards a service economy than producing economy.

Fact is that most americans are driven by price, which is lower for foreign products due to their lower wages and regulations. It is not easy finding product made in american any longer.

As ABC pointed out, many people would have next to nothing in their homes if they removed everything not made in america.

I could make a long list of reasons why america is in decline aside from economics, but filling our homes with junk made elsewhere is a major factor in our lack of industry.

[wincrasher]

Well there was no "global economy" until our Govt/politicians prompted by US big business engineered it.

They offshore our jobs not just to lower labor costs, but to shield all income from taxation. They are now lobbying to get a rate of 2% to repatriate the profits, so they can "start hiring again". What a load of BS. American business is sitting on a ton of money already - so another windfall will not add jobs. They don't want more US jobs - they just want us to buy their junk.

What's even funnier is these same politicians who are wrap themselves in the flag and push their propaganda that we all have to change to "compete" in the new world order.

Even in the depressing state of the global economy, the US is still the primary trading partner. We can still set the rules, if we choose to do so. The Gov't doesn't really want to, so maybe the individual consumer can give it a try. If the Tea Party wasn't controlled by the Koch brothers, this would be a good issue to gain some political traction.

[jpg7n16]

I personally think the 'American decline' is due to overspending from debt, and media hype.

We took on a bunch of debt, bought a ton of products we couldn't afford - which fueled American businesses that were making those products, but was producing beyond our income.

So American business got (for lack of a better phrase) too big. ie. - our economy was inflated by businesses producing enough goods to satisfy 110% of income. And also hired enough workers to keep up that level of production.


Which is completely unsustainable.

Then, demand came back to reality a bit, bringing demand back to say 95% of income or so (say something like a 15% drop from the high), and then the media hypes the 'decline of America.'

American businesses are still strong, but obviously employment levels and revenues had to shrink due to decreased demand - so several people lost their jobs. Unfortunate, but explainable.


The American consumer becoming more thrifty is bad for the American economy (in the short run).

[jpg7n16]

Plus, I guess I disagree with the whole premise. Buying American has a little benefit, but that's about it.

Let's tell the story of a Cell Phone made in China.

Cell Phone was made in China. Used parts from American technology. Used patents designed by American designers. Installed American software into the operating system, for use in America. Also used parts/materials/labor from other countries. Finished product.

Cell phone is ready to deliver. Chinese firm sells Cell Phone to American business. Cell phone is delivered either by Seaport or Airport (probably American ships and planes, since America's largest exports are capital goods -including airplanes- at 49% according to Economy of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ). Lands in US airport or Seaport, manned by American employees. American customs workers inspect the shipment, approve and okay transport.

Cell phone is loaded onto a truck built in an American factory, with American tires and parts, and gas purchased at an American gas station. American driver leaves the airport, to the distribution center for the electronics firm. American workers at the distribution center package, and ship to the specific store.

Cell phone is displayed on a shelf (designed and built by American contractors during the last store remodel) by American staff at the electronics store. The staff also adjusts the lighting, powered by American utilities to perfect the display. An American salesperson sells the Cell Phone to a customer, and helps pay the salary for an American family.



Soooo much of the supply chain is American based, and only the labor for manufacturing, and a few raw materials were paid elsewhere.


IMO - the real driver of American economy is consumer spending, not origin of product.

[Mjenn]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I found this commercial on an old VHS a few years ago -

Its from 1986 - all about buying american and starring none other than OJ!

‪Made in the USA (1985)‬‏ - YouTube

[photo]

I mainly just want to buy well-made, functional, and repairable(!) products, wherever they come from.

I really wish more of us felt this way. Unfortunately, a lot of people can't tell the difference between "cheap" and "good value." The latter isn't necessarily the cheapest. Too often, people just want the cheapest prices they can find, which increases demand from poorer countries who produce inferior quality. Yet these same people end up spending much more on items because those cheap things break down much sooner and yet, more cheap junk has to be bought.

Do you remember on Sesame Street, there was (or maybe still is) a fix-it-up guy who was always repairing toasters or clothing irons? He may have well been from Mars. It doesn't begin to pay to repair those items anymore, so our landfills are bursting with cheap junk.