[billethkid]

We have become a nation of not me, not in my back yard, short attention span, fickle memory don't inconvenience me peoples.

Another example? I hate delicious apples...BUT...at Sam's I buy delicious apples because they are the only ones from the USA. I ABSOLUTELY refuse to buy food that is not from the USA and yes it means I pass on many, many items I dearly love and enjoy.

The question of look at the car in your drive way is a banner example. I know and understand the concept that many foreign makes are made here, but the profits and benefits from those profits go back to the country of origin.

It is all but impossible to get a majority of Americans to do much of anything about anything....hence the predicament we find ourselves in as a people and a nation.

Real, flag waving pride and spirit are watered down with the passing of us who are old enough to have lived when it was different...it is further watered down as we born and bred in America Americans become fewer and fewer in number.

Those that follow us will never know what the real America was like since today is most likely as good as it will ever be in their futures.

Yes, we could change it if we the people REALLY cared and DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

This is one of my signature favorite subjects.

When you get really depressed and out of work and hungry...eat your imports!!!

btk

[Mikiem]

I buy general motors vehicles. Best value for my $ and they run for ever.

[k2at]

My wife and I have made a point of trying to buy Made in America products for about a year now. We look at the labels to c if they r sugar free and then we look to c where the product was made or packaged. We have found quite a few American made products, some of which r cheaper then Walmart (China) products.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by islandgal

I just received this from a very dear "All American" friend and wanted to pass it on. I am leaving now to go to the grocery store and drug store -
will be interested to see how much I will leave behind.

Did you see that Diane Sawyer has a special report this week? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made -
being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..

It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!

WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA’

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '

I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think while the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior
and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets?

70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ),
simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example.
The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on May 1st and continue it until June 1st or beyond. That is only one month
of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their
arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, JULY 1 TO AUGUST 1st !!!!!! START NOW.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, America...... BUY AMERICAN !!!!!

Excellent post !!!!!!!!!!! We've also been watching the ABC Evening News whereby virtually not much is left in the average American home once they remove all the "not made in America" stuff.

EVERYTHING we buy is either made in China, Central America or India as I noticed the latest J.C. Penney towels......but they are very large in size and very absorbant.

I've been noticing for the past 5 years or so that everything from Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrell, or other high end catalogue stores is ALL MADE IN CHINA.........all the small stainless steel kitchen appliances sold as gourmet such as upright chicken rotisseries, the coffeemakers, the All Clad grills and griddles which are great.....but all made in China..........

L.L.BEAN, which one would think is a hallmark of Maine made American stuff also carries clothing, etc. made in China. No wonder Americans have no jobs.
The garment industry used to be in New York City when the immigrants first came over from Italy and Ireland before the turn of the century. I'll probably get in trouble here, but they all came legally.

We've gone around our home and it is difficult to find things literally made in America. My husband used to get so much praise for putting on his website THE AMERICAN FLAG.........AND ALONG SIDE IT, "MADE IN AMERICA"....for his Vermont charms and such. A lot of jewelry is made overseas as well.

We do drive a Japanese car, and have for years, but only because all the American made ones, early on in our marriage, would have many issues.
We've never had a problem with the Japanese cars........to be fair with non American products.

Our computers are all made in Mexico according to H.P. My husband did have one of his many computers built by someone in town to his specifications so that would be the only American made computer we've ever had, but probably with foreign parts. We all could go on and on...

OH, RE YOUR MANDARIN ORANGES............about three years ago I was buying a lot of Motts Apple Juice for when the grandchildren would come..........it was their juice of choice as toddlers; now they drink other varieties. The store was out of Motts, so I got the Price Chopper Apple Juice. A week after their visit, I went to pour a glass and I can't even explain the HUGE MOLD CLOUD that had formed on the inside.............white, grey and BLACK...........floating...........I called Price Chopper and they said that their apple juice was made of a concentrate from CHINA with Chinese APPLES.

Vermont, New York State, Maine, Oregon, Washington State are known for their apples.
Price Chopper headquarters is in upstate New York. Go figure. I did some research and found out that the mold in that apple juice is very common..........but it grossed me out so much I still don't buy apple juice. We had pics of it but after my computer crashed I lost them.............what I am trying to say, is why did Price Chopper have to go to China to get apples and to make concentrate over there for our apple juice.????????????? I have seen cans of fruit from DOLE made in Greece and China as well.

The links to my NOT Made in China (he is NOT TRYING TO SELL ANYTHING, IS RETIRED)

Just click the Chinese Flag


http://www.gems24-7.com/pics_large/notmadeinchina.html

http://www.gems24-7.com/index.html

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by michaelmangione

God bless you and amen !!!! I have been an avid buy american consumer my entire life and will never understand why american consumers still by products from china when they know they are made with toxic chemicals and come from sweat shops that exploit women and children.

We like your post. My husband just said that we have to tell the store's management front office "I would have spent $300 today, but I will not because you are not carrying an American made product."

Very quickly they will realize that they just lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost sales..........and that they have to find products that are made in America.

Plastic items, led lights, everything for Christmas is made in China.....
all the FISHER PRICE toys are made in China.........and cute and cheap, but no one makes toys in America anymore???

Make a conscience effort this holiday season to tell the store management you would have spent so many dollars in your store but will not until they stock "Made in America." He said he's not a union man by any means, but a Vermont craftman who retired from his jewelry store.........whereby customers would LOVE that he had AMERICAN FLAGS on his watches that were made in America...........and any of his pieces of jewelry that he made in Vermont he'd have flags and made in Vermont, made in U.S.A. and so people are indeed fed up with MADE IN CHINA.

If people continue at the present rate of buying everything from China, our grandchildren will not be flipping hamburgers because there will not be any people to afford the hamburgers.

Detroit has gone down the tubes because of their lack of manufacturing; it is not blue collar jobs only but there is management, engineering, computer skills, etc.............that are all inter related to having American production, jobs, etc. All types. Think twice, he says before going to Home Depot but then again, I just reminded him he just bought a table and chair set and umbrella for our deck MADE IN CHINA. Can't win.

The links to my NOT Made in China (HE IS NOT TRYING TO SELL ANYTHING, IS RETIRED)

Just click the Chinese Flag


http://www.gems24-7.com/pics_large/notmadeinchina.html

http://www.gems24-7.com/index.html

[momesu]

I doubt in this world economy we will ever be able to buy 100% Made in America. However, we can when given the choice between an item Made in America or a similar item Made elsewhere choose the Made in America item. If even 50% of what we spent was on Made in America items it would probably make a large difference. Also even if parts or raw materials are from outside of the country if the item itself is produced in US by a US company that is a better item to purchase than an item produced outside to country. Some raw materials just aren't available from the USA. Women are you willing to give up your diamonds????? We need to be balanced and reasonable in this as in many other things in life.
Suzanne

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by momesu

I doubt in this world economy we will ever be able to buy 100% Made in America. However, we can when given the choice between an item Made in America or a similar item Made elsewhere choose the Made in America item. If even 50% of what we spent was on Made in America items it would probably make a large difference. Also even if parts or raw materials are from outside of the country if the item itself is produced in US by a US company that is a better item to purchase than an item produced outside to country. Some raw materials just aren't available from the USA. Women are you willing to give up your diamonds????? We need to be balanced and reasonable in this as in many other things in life.
Suzanne

My husband is a master jeweler and says this is a prime example and you are correct. Diamonds may be mined in South Africa, Australia and other regions of the world, with the majority of small stones being cut in India, and Europe as well as Israel, but many of the larger stones are cut in Antwerp as well as the UNITED STATES.............so yes, raw materials from other countries can still create jobs in America.

Diamonds bought in estate jewelry might come from an unknown source since there is only one place in the United States to find diamonds and that is Arkansas. Most estate diamonds came from Africa, Brazil, India....meaning older cuts and older jewelry...........but you can NOW GET CANADIAN DIAMONDS since many new mines have been opened in Canada and Canada is our neighbor above Vermont...........

Diamonds are just one factor, but even jewelry manufacturers are having many of their products made out of the U.S. such as Puerto Rico, which is a commonwealth, and elsewhere.......it's a worldwide global industry to be sure.

But, if one makes an effort (both the jeweler and the public) there still is a lot of jewelry being manufactured in the United States, creating jobs here.

[momesu]

Originally Posted by billethkid

We have become a nation of not me, not in my back yard, short attention span, fickle memory don't inconvenience me peoples.

Unfortunately we have also become a nation of "my way or the highway" and Me,ME,ME people. We do need balance in the way we look at things. So as I said below buy American when you can but don't beat yourself up by buying from other countries if what you NEED is not available made in America.
Suzanne

[nitakk]

My Lauren shorts were made in China, Jones New York in Hong Kong and my Adidas clima-lite golf shirt in Vietnam. My car is a BMW and I have no idea where it was made, nor do I care. Join the 21st century because we are a global economy and that is not going to change. I will buy the best product I can at the best price I can get - there's nothing more "American" that that!

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by KEVIN & JOSIE

I just purchased a pair of New Balance brand shoes at Kohl's. They are now manufactered in the USA! I knew the American people were capable of producing our own shoes. Kudos to NEW BALANCE. Support America and NEW BALANCE.

FROM THE NEW BALANCE WEBSITE:
Twenty-five percent of New Balance shoes sold in North America are produced by our US workforce, using US and imported materials. When possible, we obtain materials from domestic suppliers. At times, due to availability, economic or quality reasons, there is a need to import components from foreign sources. Where the domestic value is at least 70%, we have labeled the shoe "Made in the USA." Where it falls below 70%, we have qualified the label referencing domestic and imported materials. This determination is based in part on the Federal trade Commission's survey of consumers.

[rubicon]

Going to take a sentimental journey. going to take that journey home

[2 Oldcrabs]

We try to buy US made. Travel in US only. Do not use online "bill pay" because the post office needs the business and the country needs them. We do not need import taxes, spend your money in this country !

[ilovetv]

I think it's pretty hard to convince younger generations to avoid buying Chinese (and other human rights abusing nations') products because China's ulterior motives to overtake us are covered up for the sake of political correctness and "tolerance". Teaching in school about Mao, or mention of him in the media, is warm and fuzzy if mentioned at all.

I think a lot of people under age 50 do not have a clue that Mao's rule from 1949 to 1976 is believed to have caused the deaths of 40 to 70 million people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong

And, I think most people are clueless as to how freedom-seeking dissidents are treated.....how the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner was not allowed by the Chinese to receive the award because he is sitting in prison on an 11-year sentence for speaking out against the single-party communist totalitarian regime.....

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/10/131938...lasting-reward

Did Time Magazine, for example, feature THIS Nobel Peace Prize winner on its cover in Oct. 2010? No! (All covers can be seen on the magazine's website.) How much did you hear about this peace prize winner in the news?

The warm and fuzzy attitude taught in our society toward the Chinese regime is why there are few if any qualms about buying the trinkets they know the USA will spend itself to death on, buying it cheaper than cost.

Our nation is being lured into being hostage to this........and our nation's debt they hold......but the "drama" of making Casey Anthony into a television celebrity gets more coverage.

[pauld315]

Most big company software developed today is globally developed with most of the work being done outside the US. Many reasons for this but the big, used to be, US corporations are now touting themselves as global corporations. They are also offshoring massive amounts of high paying jobs to places like India, China, Thailand, Vietnam etc etc...wherever they can get the work done the cheapest. In addition, you might be surprised that the radiologist that read your MRI actually lives in India. With the advent of high speed internet more and more occupations will be outsourced. Who needs to have a doctor in the US perform robotic surgery on a prostate when it can be done by a doctor sitting at a console in China just as easily ?

[Number 6]

I know that I should not wade in on this topic, but I cannot help it. We live in a global economy and you have to buy where you can get the best value. What is an American car? Is it a Toyota made in Kentucky or a Chevy made in Ontario? There is a concept in economics called “comparative advantage”. This basically says that “If you can buy it cheaper than you can make it; buy it!” To badly paraphrase Adam Smith, “If this is true for a household, it is equally true for a country.”

I don’t feel that I should be forced to pay for the failure of the American auto industry. And I am not blaming the auto unions either. Management was more than complicit in that failure. Same with the electronics industry.

It would be great if PBS ran the “Free to Choose” series featuring Milton Friedman again. That is the best economics lesson I ever had.