If more American consumers bought products made in America would it help the American economy?

Question

Whatever happened to the Buy American movement.

Is this question going to be attacked as "talking points"?

Answer 1

We tried that one time with the Buy American movement. Didn't work. Why? Not because of greed but simply because of the monopoly of the Asian markets to under cut our labor costs. Labor costs killed us in the end and that was because of WW2.
No administration wanted to really get down to the nitty gritty truth that 2 income families drove the labor costs out of the roof and the womens movement didn't help either.
Sorry the truth is the truth. Americans couldn't afford to buy their own products. Neither could anybody else.

Answer 2

Well after decades of the US forcing other countries to open markets,strip regulations, lower trade barriers, subsidies and protections if the US does the same it's not going to look good. It will go against trade treaties we are signatories of. Basically we fell into our own trap... American crap made in America keeps American (not Chinese or Pakistani or Bangladeshi etc.) workers working. American companies outsource not to give you a better deal or necessary a better product it's to pocket, like you well said, the enormous difference between what they pay these sweatshop workers to make it and what they sell it to you for. American crap made in America though would certainly be more expensive but you are supporting jobs here at home. American crap should improve it's quality before anybody wants to buy it again. Like cars.

Answer 3

There is no more "buy American" movement because people don't want to pay the prices that made in America products cost. They want overseas-made bargains. With the exception of trucks and some cars, not much of anything is manufactured in the US anymore. All electronics are made in China and most clothing comes from third world countries. We've become a nation of burger flippers, due to the fact that the average Joe wants to own everything, but isn't willing to pay the American worker to make the stuff.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter. Unless American companies can make a superior product at a competitive price protecting the market will cause disaster. Remember the embargo on autos Carter implemented against Japanese imports. The only thing it accomplished was giving the US auto makers the ability to produce junk(pinto, Vega, pacer)that Americans were forced to buy. Let's not make that mistake again

Answer 5

As a staunch liberal Democrat, I can tell you that whether this is "talking points" or not...It's true.

If more consumers bought American products it WOULD help the economy...

BUT Here's the problem. Most American products SUCK relative to foreign ones. We need to review and adjust legislation allowing workers rights, but improving the quality of American products. We're Americans, and the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Answer 6

Of course!!

I often look for items made in America, or Canada or Mexico as second choices and it's often impossible to find things that aren't made in China.

I think someone should open a chain of stores called "Made in America" and stock only American made products. I'd shop there!!

With the auto makers doing so poorly I've never understood why the auto workers union doesn't start a Buy American Cars campaign.

Answer 7

Of course if American consumer buy only american made products it will greatly help the economy. First it will create more jobs, second cash will not flow out of the country. This will mean more tax collection, more tax collection less budget deficit. Reversing this, if American consumer buy only imported goods the country who is selling them to us will have more jobs available, cash will flow into their country which would mean more tax collection and less budget deficit for their government.

Answer 8

No.To think you can somehow still buy American products is in itself a facade,a last resort.Capital has no Nationality.
Protectionism at this moment in time is naive.

It will probably be praised a lot because most people are gonna want to believe it is that simple

Answer 9

American made products are garbage. People don't want to spend their hard earned money on a product that will break in a few short months.

I use to have a bumper sticker on my Toyota that said "Support your local mechanic, buy American" Still holds true today....

Even funnier yet was the other day, I saw this guys driving around with his "Kerry/Edwards" sticker...along with "Union Yes"....and some other pro union sticker. Anyways, he was driving a Toyota. Even if the truck was built in this country, still was so funny seeing this leftist, pro union loon driving a foreign car.

Answer 10

unfortunately I don't think there is alot left that is actually made in this country. Like the other poster said, human nature is self preservation. If it's cheaper to buy foreign they will to save money. Times are hard for the less fortunate so they will try to save money where ever they can.