Take The Challenge

We all realize that getting people back to works means having consumers buy American products rather than foreign made products.  But it's cheaper to buy products made in China, you might say.  Not necessarily true.  I have been researching the origin of products for quite some time now, and have determined that with a little extra time and effort, you CAN buy most products, at the same or less price, made in America.  Here are a few examples, and then I challenge you to try for one month to buy everything American made AND not spend any extra money.  If you're able to do this, I'm sure you'll be happy to pass this information on to others and help get America back to work.  (or should I say show American manufacturers that they must produce their goods domestically). 

Our trade agreements encourage corporations to go abroad to produce goods.  American companies go to China or Mexico, get cheaper labor, yet the retail price of their goods do no necessarily reflect their savings.  The corporation is just making more money, but the consumer is not benefitting.

Here are a few examples.  Hallmark Cards, an old and established corporation, makes their greeting cards in China.  For this you pay $3.50 per card.  Dollar Tree carries only cards made in America, and the price is 50cents.  Why buy Hallmark?  Colgate toothpaste is produced in Mexico.  For the same price, buy Crest, which is made in America.  Viking is the only oven now made in America.  It's expensive, but top quality.  Kitchen Aid is also top of the line, and made in the USA.  There are no electric coffee makers made domestically anymore. 

Light bulbs and other items carried at stores like Lowes, Ace and Walmart, can vary in price.  You may find out that the name brand, produced in the USA, is actually less expensive than the off brand. 

Bottom line is that you must start checking labels for everything you purchase.  Food, furniture, clothing and household items can all be bought from countries that produce them domestically, and usually at the same or lower price.  Take a look at a website I spoke of a while back, www.madeinusaforever.com.  It gives you information on so many companies that produce domestically, in every category.  Look at labels when you buy, and see if you can complete the challenge I offer you.  It doesn't sound like much for one person to do this, but once it gets going, we can really make a difference.