It all started when I listened to an hour or so Oxford-style debate on NPR on whether or not it helps to shop American and hire American. Frankly, up to that moment, it hadn’t occured to me that there might be a valid argument against doing so. I grew up in working towns where buying American literally and directly meant my neighbors had jobs and my town had taxes to pay my teachers.
So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much our world has changed in the course of my <ahem> VERY short <smile> life. Does outsourcing work make our national economy stronger by inviting competition or weaken it by allowing products and processes that result in inferior products and lost American jobs? What about shopping locally? Does it mean reducing my carbon imprint by participating in community agricultural share (CSA) food programs? Am I to buy products actually produced close to home or just shop at stores close to home (regardless where they get their goods)? Do I keep my commerce here on our little Peninsula? Is it okay to shop 20 miles away in Astoria? 40 miles away in Seaside? Does crossing the state line make Astoria farther from home than Oysterville? Is it better to shop online for american-made products, or down the block for something made in China?
I’m not an economist. I don’t even have my opinions formulated into coherent arguments just yet, to tell you the truth. What I know is that, good ro bad, our government regulates materials and processes making me able to trust American-made products on some level and I can’t extend that trust to goods made in China where melamine is found in milk, radioactive material in steel and inferior pet food destroyed more US pets than I care to consider.
I am delighted to live in what I affectionately call “teeny-tiny town”. I am proudly a resident of small town America. I genuinely like the villages of this peninsula and and want my neighbors to prosper. And so I wholeheartedly support the 3/50 project. I read labels and try to buy USA-made. Our company has a policy to buy as close to home as is possible to get what we need and to favor USA-made products when there is a choice. We support our local CSA. And, yes, we occasionally go to Wal-Mart, buy Chinese-made goods and have been known to make significant purchases without even remembering to consider our carbon footprint.
Why am I telling you all of this today? Besides that it is “the shopping season” for many, this is on my mind because I received an email that reminded me how much the little things we do add up to making a difference. I don’t have delusions that I’m saving anyone’s job, ensuring the safety of the products I purchase or even making any real environmental difference through my choices. But I do know that small efforts join to affect greater change and together, we can make an impact on our world – even if just our teeny-tiny corner.
In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else – even their job.
I like 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 (made in the USA).
I was in Lowes the other day 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.
This past weekend I was at grocery store. I needed 60 watt 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 on to another aisle for the 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!
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.
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! Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the USA.
Your turn:
- How do you define “shopping locally”?
- Does buying American and hiring American strengthen our local and national economies?
- Do you look for MADE IN THE USA when you shop?
- Is it better to buy a US-made product from an online shop 2000 miles away, or a China-made product at the local store?
–Keleigh
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