I even own vintage products because they are superior to modern day foreign made goods. I expect something in return for my hard earned dollars, not junk.
It wasn't me who devised the Free Trade and global economy scheme. I knew what worked for our country, our businesses, our marketplace and American workers and consumers which explains why I rejected Free Trade policies and most foreign made goods.
Imprudent self serving capitalists designed this new scheme and it cheats workers as well as consumers and has degraded the marketplace.
Do you not know why our large retail chains carry foreign made goods? Foreign made goods are nothing more than a profit margin masquerading as a product. Our large chain stores are a part of this global scheme. They prefer to sell foreign made goods because they come with obscene profit margins. Domestic goods have only an ordinary profit margin because they actually contain product.
Large corporations traded American wages, American standards, American worker, product and environmental regulations for obscene profits for themselves. This approach to commerce works well for those corporations but not our marketplace, not our families and not our economy.
It’s not just American workers that were harmed with this new scheme; it was also our merchants, another important component of our middle class. Large chains to a great degree replaced mom and pop operations. To this day I still shop the local hardware store and my local pharmacy and grocer, not the large chains.
You seem resigned to the global scheme that was presented to you while I am not resigned to accept an approach to commerce that is not in my best interest or the best interest of my country.
Like Mr. Andol, I suppose I must have spunk. I know darn well that the entire world revolves around my consumer dollars and I use that power well in the marketplace.
I’ll point to three companies, Green Toys, Recycline and Epicurean. I’ve seen all come into existence and because of consumer support, all expanded their operations and contributed additional domestic product to the marketplace. I traded my dollars for their products and they used those dollars to expand their companies and offer additional products for me to shop. As you can see, I don’t just shop; I invest my money in companies who employ American workers. I wonder how many jobs I helped create by shopping with those companies…
What I see at this "stage of global capitalism" is demand for Made in USA goods. Mr. Andol is not the only merchant to open such a store.
There is also Hometown USA Stores located here:
http://www.hometownusastores.com/Nortons USA is another brick and mortar store and it's online here:
http://www.nortonsusa.com/American Aisle is yet another brick and mortar store and it's online here:
http://www.americanaisle.com/Out in Ohio there are two brick and mortar stores that offer Made in USA products as well as Assembled in USA products.
There are also numerous and growing online stores that offer only Made in USA goods. Even Overstock.com has a Made in USA department now. These are retailers where American manufacturers can actually find shelf space.
This is a trend in retailing and it's happening because of consumer demand. Merchants and shoppers are teaming up to support U.S. manufacturing because there is nothing wrong with greater options and selection for consumers.
At least two people have organized Made in USA parades in their towns as a way to support and express the value of U.S. manufacturing. People are finding all sorts of ways to support our economy and American workers.
In fact, I wonder if this is a way to revitalize our downtown shopping districts. There are enough domestic products to stock many types of shops. One shop could be a pet store with only Made in USA goods. Another could be a toy store. Such a shopping district would expand choices for consumers.
Shoppers purchase domestic goods for quite a number of reasons including environmental concerns, labor concerns, moral issues, economic issues, patriotism, safety concerns, etc. It’s a shame you see it as only “nationalistic.”
I think it’s wonderful that so many people who come to the U.S. and become American citizens shop the same as I and seek U.S. made goods. They too want to support their adoptive country. I’m complimented that Canadians and the Japanese people are especially appreciative of U.S. made goods.
I feel pride that a fellow American designed a new innovative tape dispenser which I can use in our shipping room. Like mine, it’s a woman owned business. I’m humored that a fellow American took an American made engine, attached it to a union made in the U.S. bar stool and built a business making motorized bar stools. People now race with them.
It’s in our nature to be innovative and productive and people want to connect with something at the heart of this country. I like being reminded that an American somewhere is tinkering in his garage and will devise something useful and possibly fun.
I drive the 1994 Chrysler New Yorker I inherited from my father. The vehicles my company owns are union made in the U.S.
Mr. Andol’s “little store” offers 3,000 Made in USA products to shoppers and is presently I believe 6,000 square foot. He like some of the other merchants, hope to open a chain of such stores across the country. He is an American manufacturer and many of his products are consumer goods.
Better Believe It – there is a wheel in front of you. I put my shoulder to it years ago. Perhaps you feel disgusted, defeated, or something else, but you are welcome to lend your shoulder. You’d be in good company. You don’t have to wave any flags or hate anyone. I suppose you only need to desire fine products that will most often exceed your expectations. As I’ve discovered, Made in USA is a superb guideline to use when shopping.
Maybe part of this consumer demand is pushback against failed Free Trade policies and a global economy that doesn’t meet the needs of most people in the system.
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