Twenty Something Sense

We have all heard it. “You should buy American products.” “Don’t buy (insert company here,) they moved their factories overseas.  Buy (this guy) they are American.” I really have only one thing to say to that…  Why?

My goal here is not to persuade you to purchase non-American products. Far from it. I actually think that yes, you should buy American first if you have the opportunity and other variables are similar when comparing the item you want to buy.

But therein lies the problem and the situation I wanted to bring up. So many products we purchase aren’t made here in the great U.S of A. How can you support your local economy when they either A) don’t have a comparable product or B) do have a decent product but it can’t compare to what you would get for something manufactured in another country. I realize this is opening up Pandora’s Box and can bring about many issues and concerns but for now I just wanted to keep it simple.

Back in Ohio this past weekend, I was working construction with a friend of mine and some other fellow workers when the topic of trucks came up. Naturally, everyone thought theirs was better for whatever reason and they would trade jabs back and forth all in good fun of course. But when the topic of foreign cars was brought up almost all in attendance grunted and mumbled about how they weren’t up to par with American made autos and they rattled on that ‘You wont ever see me in a foreign car’ and the like.

One person went so far as to say that at his family gatherings you are not allowed to park your foreign car in the driveway. I’m not making this up. One guy won’t let his wife buy her car of choice, an Audi or BMW, and has said you can buy the same priced car but only American. Well that’s the problem. We don’t have anything that can compare to those.

That conversation really struck a chord with me. How can you support the American economy and industry when what we have can’t hold a candle to Europe or anywhere else? I don’t mean to pick on the US auto industry (ok maybe I do just a little) as they have taken a beating the last year. But I don’t want to focus solely on them. There are many other consumer goods that fit this bill, especially electronics.

My main point here is why are we so stubborn about buying American? Shouldn’t you want to buy the best product available regardless of where it’s made? I realize when we buy American we are supporting our hard-working neighbors and and keeping jobs stateside. But when I am spending my hard earned money I want the best product available.

If we can put out better products and compete with other countries I will be the biggest American supporter there is. I’ll even institute a no-foreign cell phone policy allowed in my apartment (just kidding.)

Like I stated earlier, I don’t mean to open up a topic so big that can go in so many directions and has multiple layers in this short blog. We could probably write about the effect of buying American goods every hour every day. But I’m curious if others have the same feeling. Do you feel guilty at all when you buy that brand new 42 inch plasma manufactured in, gulp, Taiwan? Do you even look or care AT ALL where certain things are made? Is that going to be a determining factor for you? Why do I HAVE to buy American, and why are people SO against others for not buying American?

For the record, I am a supporter of buying goods made right here at home. I would just like to see us be more competitive is all. I don’t want to buy American just because it’s made here. I want it to be the best. I want us to have the best products and be proud of that. I just don’t feel like this is something I can get behind at the moment.