"Made In America" fights back.

[Dunner]

I quit buying Exxon in `77 when it made my truck ping when no other brand did. Maybe they got a bad batch - doesn't matter - screw me once, blah blah blah....

Recently, I have started buying name brand products instead of store or off brand. Sure, some come off the same assembly line or out of the same machine, but for most, there is no way of telling. The name brand may even be made in China, but I have more confidence the company will stand behind their product. They may cost a little more, but I save money by not throwing them in the dumpster.

My Dodge truck had "Hecho en Mexico" scratched in the wax frame coating - upside down. Two transmissions and a head gasket later, I pay for inferior manufacturing practices.

I don't mind buying products "Assembled" in a foreign country. It gives me some confidence that at least the parts were manufactured in the US.

A lot has been said in this thread, but sorry to say, I don't expect anything to get any better. It's a vicious circle lead by Corporate Greed or businesses just trying to keep their head above water. I've seen name brand company products become no more than Harbor Freight quality items. I'm becoming more selective of what I buy and do look for the Made In USA label. Sometimes, if possible, I would rather make a tool than go out and buy one. At least I know where it came from.

[wa8yxm]

Some TV news show did a "Made in America or ____" show.

They compared two cars for American Content, one was a Ford mini-van or small SUV, the other I think a Honda (May have been a Toyota)

The "Japanese" car was more American than the Ford. QUite a bit more.

[ralphie]

I won't religiously buy American products all the time. If a well-made product is made elsewhere and I can purchase it for less, I will often buy it. Like it or not, we live in a global economy, and unfortunately our manufacturing base has suffered because of competition and our own political maneuvering, much to our detriment.

Further, we need to be exporting American-made products. To do so, we can't hide our heads in the sand and think if we contract in on ourselves, everything is going to get better without some overt action. Trade must occur between countries, and America needs to get out of its doldrums to be competetive world-wide. I'll get off my soapbox now.

[Possum]

I am starting to think if most of you guys were around at the time of the American Revolution, there would not have been one. I can't believe that you all can't see if you ain't part of the solution that you're the problem.

[ralphie]

Originally Posted by Possum

I am starting to think if most of you guys were around at the time of the American Revolution, there would not have been one. I can't believe that you all can't see if you ain't part of the solution that you're the problem.

Possum et al,

I realize you're speaking to all of us, but when I made my comment I was trying not to be political, and thus was rather vacuous. But, when you bring up the Revolution, that's another angle. I'm looking to buy my first gun, ever, because of the assault on the Second Amendment. Rather, let me say the assault on our entire Constitution by some.

I also want to add to some other comments in this thread, that I don't recall anyone mentioning unions vis-a-vis greed. The auto unions are a prime example of what got us in a mess when the Japanese started outbuilding the Big Three, yet the unions wanted more and more and continued to build crappy car, and our auto industry fell on its face. It's only now starting to get back to the former power house it once was.

{moderator edit}

Lastly, and on a personal note, I came to America at age 5. I think the proudest moment in my father's life was becoming an American citizen. He was a patriot, and yes, I think he's rolling in his grave, too. I am saddened by what I've seen our country come to. I'm a military retiree who took an oath to defend freedom, very similar to what our politicians and President take. Some of them have clearly broken their oath.

[Tallyrver]

Originally Posted by RovinOn

Ridiculous,,, Not in my book. I'll do whatever I can do to keep my money in the U.S. and by the way I'm still watching television on an American made Zenith TV, it may be 20 + years old but it's still working and has a great pictue!

Zenith Electronics Corporation is a brand of the South Korean company LG Electronics. The company was previously an American manufacturer of radio and television receivers and other consumer electronics, and was headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. For many years, their famous slogan was "The quality goes in, before the name goes on." LG Electronics acquired a controlling share of Zenith in 1995 and eventually the rest in 1999. Zenith was the inventor of subscription television and the modern remote control, and the first to develop HDTV in North America.

Nothing is sacred anymore.

Wayne

[rmmpe]

Ralphie,
I'm at your shoulder.

FWIW, back in 1968 I said "If the unions in America ever become what they are in England, the world will have but the shadow of what the U. S. is today. Unionism is just a more acceptable word for Socialism."
Prophetic?

[Perry White]

I just spent a fortune on a couch and love seat for the stick house. Flex Steel leather. Top of the line.Pulled the wrapper and found out it was all made in China. FLEXSTEEL??

Did anyone out there know about this?

[dieselclacker]

If you insist on only buying "American made", be prepared to do without. Lots of things are not made here, and haven't been for many years.

[MRBB]

Originally Posted by dieselclacker

If you insist on only buying "American made", be prepared to do without. Lots of things are not made here, and haven't been for many years.

You are right but IF we don't buy made in the USA when we can nothing will be made here in a few years and no one will have the money to buy anything.

[Ed-Sommers]

IF you are on of those that advocate "keeping it at home", I suggest not using the term "American made" vice "Made in the USA".

When one says American made, which part of The Americas do you mean? South America, Central, or how about Mexico or Canada. All members of the Americas.

Ed

[dieselclacker]

Hey thanks for the geography lesson Ed.

[Gary - K7GLD]

Truth be known, I fully agree with the philosophy of those like MRBB and the FEW others stating the same views - I've said it all myself for decades - and also pointed out the likely end results if things didn't change. EVERYTHING they say is TRUE - but unfortunately, they are about 50 years too late to make any difference...

In those earlier years, I usually got ignored or laughed at - and today, here we are...

It was far easier in those earlier decades to actually MAKE an "American or foreign-made" selection - now, it's largely impossible - the war is over, the fights been lost - and ALL the soapbox morality posturing in the world will NOT bring back what once was - all we can do is adapt as best we can to the reality we now face and are living under!

I will continue to challenge those well-meaning - but unreasistic - vocal "Patriotic Evangelists" who would preach to all around them as to their purchases, to FIRST look at the labels on they stuff THEY have bought, wear, and use daily - still "look yourself in the mirror while shaving"?

FIRST, look to see what country your RAZOR was made in!

To those same individuals, I've asked:

What brand PC did you use in your post?
What brand car do you drive?
What brand tires on that car?
Where did the fuel come from that powers it?
Where did MOST of your appliances and clothing originate?

Now, I'll ask even more - tho' the "accusers" haven't even begun to fully reply to those FIRST ones yet:

Where were most of your power and hand tools made?
Of the stuff you have bought in the last 30 days, how many were of foreign origin, or contained mostly foreign-made components?
Of the entertainment movies and DVD's you buy or watch, how many are made and produced by foreign interests - SONY, etc?
Of the food you buy, how much is USA produced and processed?

I can come up with lots more - but point is, MOST of those largely foreign originated items DO have American originated alternatives - IF the buyer is willing to drive the extra miles, and PAY the extra price for them!

And UNTIL the accusers can HONESTLY claim to consistently and rigidly DRIVE those extra miles, and PAY those extra dollars, ALL the moral rhetoric they spew, and where they served in the military is totally MEANINGLESS venting - and more an evidence of their OWN discomfort and self-guilt, than a meaningful expose of those they preach to!

EVERYONE in this country is, and HAS been a willing party contributing to where we are today - and to pretend otherwise, is like the Preacher who loudly CONDEMNS bad morality to his congregation in church - but can routinely be found in the local bar and brothels during the week.

There are only *2 ways* to reverse where we are today - one is based upon persuasion - the other is thru violence, and we can see here on this board, iin this thread, and all around us where "persuasion" has brought us - and history steadily has proved that when the violent approach is usually employed - it's NOT the masses against the "power's that be" who have basically instigated and profitted from conditions, but instead, against their own neighbors and innocent local merchants.

And THAT is pretty much where our current national and world-wide eradication of the middle class down-slide will end up as well, believe it!

[Perry White]

IF the buyer is willing to drive the extra miles, and PAY the extra price for them!

That's if you can even afford the fuel to do it.