Are you buying American?

It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you are on, we should ALL be trying to buy American.

As a construction material contractor, I didn't realize how much of our material was made
overseas. Last week, after the Tariffs went into effect, the very next day manufacturers
levied Tarfiff surcharges on us. Most of them are between 25 - 35%.

We have told them all, OK, we will buy American. We have already opened new accounts
with manufacturers, and reactivated old accounts.

The sad thing is, I believe many on the left will NOT buy American, because they hate
Trump far more than they love this country.

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IM5688 · 61-69, M

I have always tried to buy American but many of our largest stores make it very difficult to do. Macy's, JC Penney's, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, etc. all mostly carry foreign made merchandise. And it's not just the top name stores that are doing it. Your everyday go to stores like Target, Walmart, Old Navy, etc. pretty much carry 100% foreign made goods.

About 10 years ago, I was going overseas to visit family around the Christmas holidays. I literally went to every store in our large shopping mall to find gifts for them that were made in the USA. The only items I could actually find were cookies and candy.

IMO, if we really want to be able to buy American, we need to start boycotting a lot of stores until they offer American made products.

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@IM5688 No, it's simple. Make better things and don't blame other countries.

DogMan · 61-69, M

@EagerDaddy It is really simple. 0% Tafiffs on everyone, including the U.S.

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DogMan · 61-69, M

@EagerDaddy He doesn't have time to fuck around. So far Vietnam, and Thailand have
said Zero tariffs. The more that follow, the more others will follow.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@EagerDaddy

He could have started talks first

No he couldn't. He has one term. "Talks" drag out for years. Showing them he means business and slapping these tariffs on them got their attention. Now, he's got massive leverage to cut a great deal. If you want a great deal, you need to have the right starting position. That's what he's done. He has let the world know the US is sick of being taken advantage of. The entire globe wants and most NEED access to US markets. Now, they need to either open up their markets to US goods, or pay heavily to access ours.

You may not like the way sausage is made. But that's your problem. The problems he's addressing have been building up over decades. We can't continue to go on like we have been.

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@carpediem Trump lies. There is a tariff of less than 3,5 % over here.

We have a sales tax here (VAT) which Trump counts as a tariff. It is not. That is paid equalky by Americans and Europeans.

ElwoodBlues · M

@DogMan says

It is really simple. 0% Tafiffs on everyone, including the U.S.

Actually, tRump has said he wants zero trade deficit with every country. Zero tariffs won't achieve that with countries with low labor costs like Vietnam, India, & China.

DogMan · 61-69, M

@ElwoodBlues Vietnam already agreed to Zero Tariffs

ElwoodBlues · M

@DogMan Yes, but zero Tariffs doesn't necessarily yield a zero trade deficit, and it's the zero trade deficit that tRump says he wants.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@EagerDaddy Where is "over here"? And I think you're full of it. The EU has a 10% tariff on US built vehicles. They also have quotas and quantitative limits on certain goods, excise taxes and customs procedures that make it especially difficult to get goods into EU markets.

It's so easy for some Eurotrash with no true frame of reference to complain about our president. The EU has tariffs and other obstacles to US goods. That's ending. In fact, that has ended. You're going to get in line with zero tariffs or pay for the privilege of accessing the US market. But please, continue to whine and complain.

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@carpediem You’re clearly not informed (probably believing Trump lies), yet call me Eurotrash.
Civilized debate is impossible.

Block

ElwoodBlues · M

@EagerDaddy Carpie already blocked my, so I didn't have to waste a block on her!!

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@ElwoodBlues

Zero tariffs won't achieve that with countries with low labor costs like Vietnam, India, & China.

No tariffs of any kind will achieve that, the US doesn't make much that Vietnamese consumers want and can afford to buy. The only way to achieve it is to make things that they want and can afford. Perhaps Harley Davidson or Indian should start making a competitor to the Honda 50.

ElwoodBlues · M

@ninalanyon Exactly. For many countries it's an impossible endpoint for the reasons you stated. But it gives Tяump scope to toy with leaders and exercise his cruelty.

On the other hand, working class and rural Americans who supported Tяump are also feeling the pain as their retirement savings shrink and grocery prices soar. It's a question of who can bear the pain longer, and I'd be surprised if Tяump supporters won the stoicism contest.

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