{"id":251,"date":"2011-10-25T17:45:38","date_gmt":"2011-10-26T00:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/?p=251"},"modified":"2011-10-25T17:45:38","modified_gmt":"2011-10-26T00:45:38","slug":"what-can-i-do-to-%e2%80%9csave%e2%80%9d-american-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/general\/what-can-i-do-to-%e2%80%9csave%e2%80%9d-american-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can I do to \u201csave\u201d American Manufacturing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may feel that there is nothing you can do as an individual to stop the total destruction of American manufacturing and watch the United States go over the precipice. Don\u2019t think this way! \u00a0\u00a0American activist and author, Sonia Johnson said, \u201cWe must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.\u201d Eleanor Roosevelt<\/a> echoed this sentiment saying, \u201cNever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change world; indeed, it\u2019s the only thing that ever has.\u201d Remember that our country was founded by a small group of people that did indeed change the world by forming the United States of America.<\/p>\n

Here are suggestions of what each one of us can do:<\/p>\n

As a Consumer<\/strong>:\u00a0 It matters if we buy American-made products.\u00a0 First, our addiction to imports has helped create our high trade deficit, especially with China, where most of the consumer goods we import are manufactured.\u00a0 Second, American-made products create American jobs.\u00a0 Each time you choose to buy an American-made product, you help save or create an American job.<\/p>\n

Look at the country of origin labels of goods when you go shopping. Most imported goods are required to have these labels. \u00a0Buy the \u201cMade in U.S.A.\u201d even if it costs more than the imported product. It is a small sacrifice to make to insure the well being of your fellow Americans. The price difference you pay for \u201cMade in USA\u201d products keeps other Americans working.<\/p>\n

If the product you are looking for is no longer made in America, then avoid countries such as China, who have nuclear warheads aimed at American cities. It would not be an exaggeration to say that American consumers have paid for the bulk of China’s military buildup. American service men and women could one day face weapons mostly paid for by American consumers. Instead, patronize impoverished countries such as Bangladesh or Nicaragua, which have no military ambitions against the United States.<\/p>\n

In addition, you will be reducing your \u201ccarbon footprint\u201d by buying a product made in America instead of a product that is made offshore\u00a0that will use a great deal of fossil fuel just to ship it to the United States.<\/p>\n

If you have a \u201cMade in USA\u201d appliance that needs repair and all the new ones are imported, have it repaired. If it can\u2019t be fixed, and it is a small appliance that you can live without, then don\u2019t buy a new one.<\/p>\n

We Americans buy many things that we really don\u2019t need just because they are so cheap. If a product that you are considering purchasing is an import, ask yourself, \u201cDo I really need this?\u201d If you don\u2019t need it, then don\u2019t buy it.<\/p>\n

If you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, you could ask to speak to the department or store manager of your favorite store. You could tell the person that you have been a regular customer for x amount of time, but if they want to keep you as a customer, they need to start carrying some (or more) \u201cMade in USA.\u201d products. \u00a0If you buy products on line or from catalogs, you could contact these companies via email with a similar message. Your communicating with a company does have an effect because the rule of thumb in sales and marketing is that one reported customer complaint equals 100 unreported complaints.<\/p>\n

If you think that Americans no longer care about where goods are made or have concerns about the safety of foreign products, you may be surprised to learn that poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans prefer to buy American.<\/p>\n

A nationwide poll<\/a> conducted by Sacred Heart University in September 2007 found the following:<\/p>\n