If a foreign product has a competitive advantage over an American one, are we obligated to buy American?

Question

To what extent should the American consumer go out of his/her way to buy an "inferior" product?

I mean inferior only in the sense that according to the consumer, the foreign product better meets the consumers' needs. Some people might say that Hollywood movies are inferior to European art movies, but the consumer says that the US makes great movies.

Dollar Tree thrives because Americans want to buy cheap crap instead of well made stuff (or stuff that will do the job just as well as expensive stuff).

Should we buy clothes made in the US instead of India; US cars instead of fuel-efficient Japanese ones?

Economics says that we're better off (for the most part) letting people concentrate on their strengths; products are made cheaper and better.

Does the US have to be the best at all manufacturing?

Are you willing to buy only American, even if it's not the best?

Answer 1

I say buy the best and cheapest products at all times. The problem with American workers is that they feel like the enemy is their white collar bosses, when in reality these co-workers ARE ON THE SAME TEAM! The competition is who they should be working hard to defeat, not the staff at their own company.

Anyway this phenomenon is causing American products to be terrible in quality and way too expensive. Just buy what you want for the best price you can get.

Answer 2

Here's what I think: If a company that was based in the US takes it's business outside the US to a country like China, where they don't have to pay decent wages, they should NOT BE ALLOWED to import that product back to the US for retail sale. I think if a product is made in the US you should buy it for the simple reason that if we don't, sooner or later that company will go to China, too, and take more jobs away from the American citizens and food out of our children's mouths!

Answer 3

i believe the only truly American made vehicle right now is the Toyota tundra!!!

i bought a new jeep liberty and a Harley Davidson, and i have 2 Toyota 4by 4's, and a 4 by 4 international!!!

the only one that is truly American built with American parts is
the old international!!!

and anymore the parts you buy, like starters, alternators, and lots of other parts are Japanese!!!

Answer 4

I buy the best product for the best price for me. Why would I pay good money for a crappy product? Only if I don't care how long it lasts.

Answer 5

The US had a great manufacturing country,but those days are over because of all the outsourcing.

Answer 6

It is a democratic privilege to chose a product one likes.

Answer 7

I go for quality/price ratio..

a product is not automatically better quality just because it was made in America...

Answer 8

just ,we should understand what product that we should buy,
if computer,America quality is good,the digital product not.

Answer 9

Of course not, we common people just need to satisfy ourselves.