[Vinny]

Define made in America? All or most US brands use foreign parts. Also, many forget about the large number of jobs, import and export provide. From the transportation companies to the salesmen in every store that sells good either wholly made or partially made of imported parts. Most Americans are totally unaware of the large number of people who make their living off of imports. Heck, there are special laws so that American car manufactures can have their cars assembled in Canada and parts made in Mexico.

Do not confuse the Made in America label with wholly made in the US with all US parts. I was in the international trade business and know most items have foreign made parts in them, even Harley Davidson bikes. Most do not know what a foreign trade zone is and yet every US and most Japanese car makers are producing cars in them in the US. And guess what, these zones make it more attractive to use imported goods. All curtesy of our Federal Government.

Let's not forget that we have a global economy. Know what happens when imports are cut out and 100% US made goods and labor are used? The higher cost of labor and parts means higher prices. People are not willing to pay high prices to protect someone else's job. The marketplace has already spoken and they want inexpensive imports rather than costly made in US products. Many do not realize that almost everything they own has imported parts in it even if assembled in the US.

Lastly, keep in mind that importing finished products and parts have saved a lot of jobs, even in the auto industry. Without them, many companies would have had to shut their doors because they cannot produce their products cheap enough to compete in a global marketplace. The auto and electronics industries are just two examples. We all want higher wages and cheaper goods but higher wages means higher cost of wholly made in the US goods which we cannot afford unless we make more money. It is a vicious circle. Us old timers need to recognize that we are in a global economy and those unable to compete in it will die. We may not like it but it is the reality we live in.