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

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.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@IM5688 Just remember, there are a lot of things just not made in America any more..Not Just Harleys, Nikes, and Apple.😷

swirlie · F

@IM5688
You may not know this but 91% of all goods purchased anywhere in the USA are made in China.

The reason it has been as cheap to live in the USA for the last 30 years as it has been, is because 91% of American jobs have moved to Asian countries where labor is cheap in comparison and Americans have been just fine with paying cheap prices for goods that were made with cheap labor rates compared to what Americans typically make, even as a minimum wage in the USA.

The reason poorly made North American cars cost so much to buy in the USA is because Trade Unions like the UAW have held GM, Ford and Stellantis hostage for 30 years, where unskilled, uneducated labor is being paid $40 an hour to screw nuts on a wheel on an assembly line.

You as an American, can't have it both ways IM5688.

IM5688 · 61-69, M

@swirlie You are correct in what you say about unions. I have always been against them. At one time they actually did some good, like stopping child labor and 80 work weeks and getting employers to provide health benefits, but those days are gone and now unions do nothing but get higher wages for otherwise typical low paying jobs.

swirlie · F

@IM5688
We have to remember that back in the late 1960's, then Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated because he tried to put a halt to Labor Unions in the USA. He attempted that bold action by going after the Teamsters Union in his noble but foolish attempt to disband that Union which represented American auto workers in Detroit.

What this means is, Unions are in place for a valid reason and America's higher than poverty standard of living is because of Trade Unions, not because of American ingenuity and world dominance in the manufacturing industry.

If you want an American to screw the nut onto your brand new car as it rolls along the American-made assembly line, then be prepared to put your money where your mouth is, otherwise start buying more affordable but imported Chinese cars and lay this issue of returning manufacturing jobs to the USA to rest once and for all.