The Boss said it best of course. Being born in the USA is pretty freaking awesome. That goes for plants, animals, people, and even stuff. But the realities of the 21st century make it so not everything can be born in the USA for us to consume in the USA.
That doesn’t mean we don’t make stuff anymore (a point I’ve made time and again and again). In fact we make a lot of stuff, more stuff than we’ve ever made. And I’m happy to see at least one media outlet highlighting this. ABC News with Diane Sawyer is running a series all summer long about stuff being made in America. They’ve set up a website that is really quite comprehensive. It has videos highlighting various American manufacturers and even a tool to show you how much of your car is made in the US (mine is 80%).
I encourage you to peruse the website and watch the segments because it’s important for all of us to be familiar with manufacturing in the US. But the real question is should we actively pursue products made in the US? I’ve wrestled with this idea myself. I didn’t choose my car because of how much of it was made in the US, in fact I had no idea at the time of its patriotic roots.
On the one hand, buying American goods keeps the money in the country. You’re contributing to the wealth of the US. But on the other hand there’s a decent chance you’re going to be paying more for a specific product (that is no guarantee as some things are cheaper to make in the US than abroad). Conceivably, you could pay more for an inferior product. I think you shouldn’t waste your time finding products that are made in the US but if you want to, there are websites out there that give you lists of all kinds of American made goods.
What I do instead when I’m looking for products is just check the label or price tag. Usually made in America goods are proud to say it and it’s not too hard to find. If I’m indifferent between a couple of end tables or something I’ll go with the one made in the US. I do this because I’m already aware of what is made in the US and what isn’t. But I do want to help spread the word like ABC News is because I feel like the rest of the country has forgotten.
PS: ABC News also has an interactive map of products made in the US, you can even submit companies to be added to the map.
PSS: Yes, those are my shoes and I love them.
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
