"Buy American"...is it really that controversial?

I don't understand all the ins and outs of it, but I do know that, yes, they tried this in the Roosevelt period and it caused problems and did not help. Of course, the other countries don't like it, since they will lose our business. But my understanding is that free trade is better for all. Rather than putting more restrictions on trade in either direction, taking off some of the restrictions that make it so expensive to do business in the USA, so the playing field is more level, is supposed to be the better way.

I do believe we need to not alienate the rest of the world, but I can remember when American goods were top quality.Sad to say they are not anymore. I do think that people seem to look for controversy and evil intent.

It's a good concept but Obama has already backed off on it because other countries got ticked off that we would want to consume goods manufactured here and not buy from them. One of America's troubles is that we don't really have a manufacturing base anymore. All our companies have been driven out of business by overseas competition, restrictive laws, the cost of wages and benefits or high taxes. I'm sure we'd all love to by American goods if there were any to buy! A shirt from China might cost $10, the same thing made in America would probably cost $25-$40 because of taxes, laws and wage demands. So we buy the item from China.

Since many other countries are hurting, too, a decline in our purchases of foreign made products has the potential to hurt them, too, but my feeling is that I'm an American first and I have to do what I believe is best for my country. So, I try to buy American made products but it's hard. Most of the items in the retail part of my husband's new business were made in China or India. The motorcycle parts are made in America for the most part but even some of them originated overseas.

My grandfather used to manufacture women's clothing. He was granted the right to have the nifty label that said, "Made In America". This was despite the fact that he ran sweat shops in Mexico to put the clothing mostly together. And the ensuing arguments on fairness to employees on my end until he gave up and gave the women co-op child care, fans and time off for medical. Sometimes a nagging child is useful. Until the USA government changes the rules about "Made In America", I tend to just look for the best deal. I am too aware that only a percentage needs to be manufactured/processed/completed on USA soil to get that nifty tag. Plus I am well aware of the fact that there are many inhuman sweatshops in the USA that overwork people and children. Finally, if the US Citizens refuse to buy foreign, how can we keep the flow of money going? Long gone are the days (1000s of years ago) that nations grew fat and rich by only exporting their excessive surpluses. In this day and age, we have such a want for a variety of things. I look around my humble apartment and see: Tapestries from Egypt. Masks from Thailand. Rugs from the Caucasian region of Asia (lower Russia area). Dancer's fans from the South East of China. A home temple from North India. Statues from Aratria, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. Venezuelan and Guatemalan textiles shadowboxed. I guess I could have bought the Egyptian tapestries made in the USA. However, it would not have promoted fair trade with the Egyptian program to teach citizens long lost crafts and arts. I could have bought regular old masks made in the USA. However, the "witch masks" from Thailand are dramatic, intricate and show such skill and beauty. Plus, once again, keeps a skill going. I could have bought US made fans, but would they be the silk with a history of dancing a story? Nope. I could have bought a plain rug made in the USA. But, there are so few of the Caucasoid tribe left and this is their only real way of making money to survive. No one in the USA makes the beautiful, intricate home temples. If I want one, I have to get it from India. Yes, there are many African style statues made in the USA. But the statues I have, were gifts from people I have assisted, in the past as well as commemorating my trips to the various African counties. And finally the various textiles from Central and South America. Once again, refer to the Egyptian program. If the flow of money is not world-wide, how can we, the USA, expect other people in other countries to have the money needed to buy our goods and services?

I always try to Buy American. I think that it is a good thing. We need to bring the jobs back here. If more people start refusing to buy things made out side the US all those big companies that left here for cheaper labor will have to come back. We need to start taking care of ourselves before we can worry about the rest of the world. We should only Import stuff that we really need, and start making the rest of the stuff here.

I believe in "Buy American" up to a point. Personally, I think that should be modified to "Buy North American" because products from Canada and most of Mexico are of quality, also. I haven't bought anything from China in over 10 years and wouldn't consider it at all. Buying steel from Japan is an insult because the American and Canadian steel industries are outstanding.

Yes it is controversial.Why? Because the rest of the world would throw a fit. But would it be good for this economy in THIS country? Yes. Other countries that are not getting hit as hard by this recesssion are because they produce more than they consume. Which is something this country does not do. Want American jobs? Buy american. Want to help America's economy? Buy American. Want the economy to start turning around? Buy American. Everytime you go and buy products from another country you are supporting that countries economy not ours. You are supporting jobs for that country....not ours. We are in a situation of what is good for america is not good for the rest of the world. If we start actually supporting our own people for a change and buying american products than it will hurt other countries that are huge importers of goods to this country. That is why they are throwing a fit. It is not good for them. They could care less what is good for America. All they care about is their bottom line and their country. Which means keeping us buying their goods, not ours. So think about it....what is best for us? That is what each country is thinking. What will make our economy grow? What will create jobs? The united states is one of the top consuming countries. If we would just buy most (not all) of our products we purchase in a year "Made in America", it would create a lot of jobs,jobs means people have money to spend, which would improve our economy.

I know that already in a hard time with the economy that this buy american thing will have an effect on some countries. Also what I can not understand is they will encourage americans to buy american for some things but there are ust some things that they get from other countries that keep them going. What would happen if the other countries all of a sudden did cut them off? I think that this is going to have a major effect on the import export thing.

Texas can produce enough oil to opperate all cars in america?

I quite agree with buying American, but I don't know as it's going to work. Mostly because we've spent so many years NOT buying American, I don't know if they'll find any companies that still make anything!! We've always tried to buy american. That is an extremely hard thing to do, and we've given up on it. We went through two towns, trying to find tools that were made in America. We didn't find any. So we bought Taiwanese. He needed these tools, and we were out of options. I think the rest of the world is freaked out cause they depend on us buying their stuff. That's one reason we are having so many problems. We've been sending all our money overseas instead of keeping it here. It's like ignoring what your neighbor is selling, and buying the exact same thing from a country overseas. Very silly. It's gone on so long, I'm not sure we can find American made things anymore.