What's new
By:

I keep thinking more and more about "buying American"...

ellenface

ellenface

Mastermind Talker
PF Member
Messages
1,465
Highlights
0
Reaction score
0
Points
402
Peak Coin
0.000000¢
DB Transfer
0.000000¢
I received the email below from my brother. Funny, I have been thinking more and more about the idea of supporting our economy by purchasing "American" whenever possible. In all honesty, the practice of looking where something was made, was not on my radar, at least not on a regular basis.

I am thinking I am going to change that...

One Light Bulb at a Time

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American...

Good idea... one light bulb at a time...

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments... They were all made in China . The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA . Start looking...

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job ... So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico .... now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything...

This past weekend I was at Kroger... I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price...

The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio .

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here...

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets.... yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada ... The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!
 
Globalization has killed the concept.

Someone buying a certain Ford vehicle is less likely to be "buying American" than a person buying a certain Toyota vehicle.
 
NO actually I wasn't... I am stoopid when it comes to a map.... but I am guessing by your reaction it isn't... :lol:
 
Canada is their own country (neighbors to the north) as is mexico (neighbor to the south)
 
Before attempting to visit the neighbors )canada or mexico) best get a passport also. Wouldn't want ya getting felt up (unless you wanted to!) for no good reason :giggles:
 
Good points in the article Ellen. THough I too have been lazy--and cheap I don't always look where it is made--but researchers and people have been saying for years--look at the labels and lets get Americans employed--buy product that is made here-help support jobs.
I think it is great to help other countries etc--but we are in a position where we need to help our country--how many other countries are buying things that say made in the USA?
I know that many companies were forced to go overseas to get items because of the price in the USA--people were demanding too much money in wages etc--and it gets very complicated--but as the article shows--some of the items were cheaper and performed just as well.
It really does make you think.
 
Technically Canada and Mexico are American but not part of the "United" States.

I would buy more "US" made products if only they were made better. On certain things they are in others they are not.


M
 
I remember when my brother and my SIL bought a Dodge Daytona. Something happened and they were talking about the japanese or whereever's motor in it. I thought, hey, it's a Dodge - they are made in Detroit! They don't have that kind of motor, they have an American motor.

:lol:
 
I do know that "American" cars have foreign parts and vice versa... I learned that here. :) We need a pat self on back smilie! :lol:
 
I have only purchased "American" vehicles (Did lease a Honda Passport back in '97 and was very disappointed in it) and am constantly mocked about how stupid I am for that decision. Constantly being told that American cars are garbage compared to Toyota and the like. I drive a lot, so I like larger cars and haven't seen this great divide people talk about.
 
Good lawd - neither Mexico nor Canada are part of the US, nor are they part of America.

They are, however, part of North America (the continent).

I don't know about buying Mexican products, but buying Canadian is almost the same as buying USA products. Although the money doesn't stay in the USA, most Canadian's spend their money on foreign made products. So you aren't guaranteed the money will come back to the USA, but statistically there is a good chance it will.

According to a 2007 study commissioned by the Canadian Embassy in the United States, Canadian–American trade supported 7.1 million American jobs. [300,000 here in Illinois]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_–_United_States_relations#Trade

I know 7 million seems like a piddly amount, but Canada's population is only 1/10th that of the USA (~35 million). This is significant in terms of the Canadian economy.

So adding "Buy Canadian" to your "Buy American" list wouldn't be a bad idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top