This is a very insightful article about what we all can do--Made in America. The builder found every item needed for building a home from items made in America. Plus, the list is available online.
I vow to try harder to find items I need that are Made in America. If the industries were returned to my area that were shipped overseas, we would have jobs created instantly in the garment industry and manufacture of fabric.
I try so hard and don't have the resources to find items when I need something. For instance, I needed a small strainer. The last three tore up. All I could find was strainers from China. I went to an upscale store and bought a strainer made in France. It was a shocking $7.50 and tiny--less than 3" across, but just what I needed. That is somewhat better, but it is still not made on American soil. It shows no sign of wearing out like the last three. I use a tiny strainer every day without fail, sometimes twice each day.
I did search online and could not find a strainer made in America. That is what I meant about not having the resources to find the items make in America. Try harder? Yes, that would work.
There are no strainers in any thrift store. Items like that sometimes are just garbage if they are available.
Your turn
Do you go out of your way to only buy American made products? Do you just buy the cheapest product, no matter the country of origin? Do you even care? Has your area had industry moved overseas? Are you afraid of items made elsewhere?
Linda - don't even get jambaloney started on to this topic (me either, but i rant a little less on this topic than he does!). he says that all american-made products between the 40's to the mid 60's are the best products the world has ever seen. we scavenge, garbage-hunt and go to yard sales and garage sales looking for such products! and don't even get him started on the american-made cars during that period. although during that period, Canadian-made products were equally as good.
ReplyDeletejambaloney has a thing about North-American made products during that time frame. he hates the junk that walmart sells - but if you live on a restricted budget then you do what you have to do.
however, we go out of our way to buy North-American-made as much as we can.
according to jambaloney - North America gave up it's superiority in manufacturing quality during the 70's and we have been paying the price ever since.
here's to people like you and us making a conscious choice to buy North American made. if we can get a few more onboard, you are dead right - it is a blueprint for creating jobs!
your friend,
kymber
I work for a very global company and I sell to other global companies. The car example is a good one. Toyota is now the most "American car." It has the most parts made in America. So there are some foreign companies in the US that are big time employers in this country, so made in America is not just about who your parent company is but how they do business.
ReplyDeleteThings definitely aren't made like they used to be. Being an engineer, I actually blame it on the computer age, not outsourcing. Engineers had to build in huge safety factors when designing products and now they can calculate exactly how chintsy they can make something to meet the minimum performance requirements of an application.
I think US mfg'ing will make a comeback. CHina is not as cheap as it used to be and there are enough companies with integrity issues that reputable companies are starting to pull back supply. (I work in the mfg sector, so I'm already seeing some of this in critical areas like healthcare)
Yes, this matters a great deal to me. I don't buy anything without shopping around first and thats my criteria now. My washing machine- a Speed Queen- is U.S. made except for the knobs. We couldn't find U.S. made entry doors so refused to buy them brand new. We found them used. Thats how I cope with the issue.
ReplyDeleteI spend alot of time in big hardware stores waiting for my husband. I look at labels on everything in the isles to pass the time. Recently I was shocked that the majority of roofing oddities were U.S. made! There is hope.
Lots of websites that serve as guides out there as to what is or is in part made in the U.S.
good issue, Practical! I try to buy most all my foodstuffs from the good ole USA. Many other purchases tho' are about me finding the best quality I can for the price I can afford. I'm like kymber's jambaloney in that I will scour garage sales and thrift shops for the stuff made back when. often the old stuff IS the best quality I can afford!
ReplyDeleteLindaM,
ReplyDeleteOne reason I bought my Amana is because it is made in the USA. And, the old items are best. At least they have no plastic.
" often the old stuff IS the best quality I can afford!" So true!
kymber,
ReplyDeleteThere are only a few things I will buy at WM. Really, the few things I need are made overseas as far as I can tell--ac filters, the little black ones for window units.
This may not seem the frugal thing to do, but I go to yard sales and thrift stores, not knowing what I might find, but hoping I find something I need. That is how I found a steamer insert, big stapler, a good metal tape, and a new-in-the-box bread machine. Only the bread machine was made outside of the US. Canadian made is just as good for me as US made.
First Generation American,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the enlightenment on engineers' work. You added information I have never heard.
Chinese workers are demanding better wages, as well they should, so that they can actually afford to buy more. Maybe there will at least be more made in this hemisphere!
I use a 1955 Singer zigzag sewing machine, the first zigzag Singer made, using all German metal parts. I will never give it up.
Chinese manufacturers excel, or used to excel, at making items which require comparatively more hours of labor. They are slowly losing their competitiveness to Vietnamese and other southeast asian countries which are able to churn out goods at rates cheaper than Chinese workers, depending on the type of good being made.
ReplyDeleteAmerican manufacturers can still be competitive as Europeans and Chinese, and certainly as or more competitive in terms of quality.