Ask if goods are made in the USA

The American economy is driven by consumer spending, representing two-thirds of GDP. Falling middle-class income and the loss of manufacturing jobs is our own fault. We currently waste our considerable purchasing power to promote multinational corporations who exploit cheap labor overseas, for the short-sighted goal of somewhat cheaper tennis shoes or sweatshirts.

Just as corporations squeeze their suppliers to meet their demands, Americans who care about our long-term economic health, and a strong middle class, should use our collective purchasing power to demand American-made goods. We actually still make things here in the U.S. A quick Google search reveals that there are websites that can help us find products and brands made in the US, for example,

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com.

If every time we went into a store to buy something, we asked the manager to point us to products made in the USA, it wouldn’t take long for management to notice. Walk into a Walmart or Target and ask for New Balance tennis shoes (which are made on the East Coast). If they don’t carry that brand, ask what brands they do carry that have been made in the U.S. If they say none, ask if there are other stores in the mall who do carry made in USA products.

We have the power. It doesn’t take government regulations, tariffs, or revolts of stockholders; it just takes a little time (and possibly a few more dollars) to send the message to retailers and manufacturers that we demand products made right here.

Jon Monday