Made in America, Assembled in America Anyone?

[Birchwood]

As a typical consumer of many years & bless with very good income, I noticed that, I developed improved taste in almost everything, and this always include stuffs which are made somewhere. Despite living below my means, most items that I possess are made somewhere. That's until I bought a Ford F150 truck 2 years ago. With our country's financial dilemma,
should we be more conscious about stuff we buy? It's going to be tough since I love cameras(Japan) mech. watches(swiss),
cars(Japanese). Most things I wear are made somewhere too! My computer is made in china!!!

Should we have a forum to be conscious about this issue. I know globalization is complicated!!

Hey that Ford truck is not that bad. I almost bought a Chevy Silverado, but I noted it was assembled in Mexico and my
Honda Accord coupe was assembled in Ohio. My wife's Subaru Outback was assembled in Illinois.

I don't care who owns the factory, I just like to create more jobs for Americans.

Opinion please!

[Zoebird]

It is complicated.

I believe in small steps. For example, I try to buy locally in terms of food, household items, and clothing. Sometimes, though, that's not possible, so I buy fair trade. If I can, I buy organic.

For electronics, I'm no big fan. We have a very minimal amount of electronics: two lap tops (that get frequent use) which were both made in china, three watches (two made in japan and one made in scandinavia), one flip camera (where was that made?), and we are getting a new camera for christmas (i think -- i don' tknow. my ILs say they're going to get us a vacume cleaner, so that usually precludes getting us a camera -- I'm not expecting anything though). That will probably be chinese made as well. What isn't these days?

Anyway, end of the day, I figure I can do the research and do the very best that I can within what I can also afford.

[Tradd]

I'm from southeast Michigan, with many auto workers in the family. Even though Toyotas, etc., might be made in the US, the money still goes back to a foreign owned company. I only buy Fords, anyway.

A favorite clothing company - Kiyonna (plus size women only) - makes their clothes in the US. They're more expensive, but they're made here.

[bae]

I think it is a bit jingoistic to "buy American" just for the sake of buying American. I like people from lots of countries.

I try to buy products that are reasonably-sustainably produced and distributed. If the French or Swiss or Germans or Chinese can manage to get me a quality product at a decent price without too much destruction of the ecosystem, more power to them.

[Zoebird]

bae, i can agree with that. and even better if you can actually get the product while visiting the country that you are in. :D but technically, that's not very eco friendly, is it? :) all that shipping.

[ctg492]

Autos, just because they are assembled in the USA does not mean the content of the auto is. I actually tire of hear Buy American Autos, being from MI and knowing that means Assembled. Our family's income comes from the auto industry living in Mi. For my entire life my 83 year old dad has grumbled about that line and said: where are their underware made, do they look at that.
Imo, made in the USA is a pick and choose and do the best one can, if it matters to them.

[Rogar]

I pay attention to some things. Most of my furniture I got used and is from from a few decades ago, but am pretty careful about buying cheap rain forest wood products. I have a bed that was handcrafted locally and a couple of pieces from LL Bean made from sustainability harvested American woods.

Clothing is sort of hopeless, but I spend a lot of time outdoors and it is hard to beat the warmth of good wool. I have a wool coat from Ibex that cost a lot, but is a very high quality American product.

My local health food type store posts the country of origin on produce and I will typically avoid products from South America, even if it is out of season here.

Like Zoebird, I'm sort of a minimalist on electronic gadgets without being too primitive.

I have a lot of odds and ends that I bought used and have tried to give a second life to. I like to think quality and getting things that will last and sometimes used older items fall better into that category than new.

[Tussiemussies]

I find it hard to find things made in the US maybe there is a site that has a listing. We do buy some clothing from Woolrich, but it is expensive. We just ordered all new appliances for our kitchen made by Maytag, which I am told is made in the US. I do like the idea of buying US to keep the US jobs afloat.

[Gregg]

In my mind I filter local goods first. Because I live almost smack dab in the middle of the country whatever I buy that is local is likely American in origin. From there I do pay attention to the labels as often as not. If all things are equal I do make an effort to buy the American made product. If not, I will buy whichever option represents a better value. I will do what I can to support Americans who do it right. I won't support someone who doesn't just because they live here.

[SteveinMN]

I find it hard to find things made in the US maybe there is a site that has a listing. We do buy some clothing from Woolrich, but it is expensive. We just ordered all new appliances for our kitchen made by Maytag, which I am told is made in the US. I do like the idea of buying US to keep the US jobs afloat.
Tussie, here are a couple of sites I've found useful: Americans Working (http://americansworking.com/) , Still Made in USA (http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/) , and Made Here in America (http://www.madehereinamerica.com/Pages/default.aspx) . Also a Web search for thingyouwanttobuy and "made in USA" will point out products.

By using sites like that, I've been able to find tennies, work shoes, jeans, and more still made in the U.S. at competitive prices. Trying to satisfy all the demands of American-made, sustainably-produced, ethically-run, etc. is an almost-impossible challenge. And, sometimes, the Made in USA products still don't quite measure up. But it's a start if that's the attribute that's most important to you.

I try to buy American, but I'm aware it's a complex issue. The Toyota Camry produced in Kentucky or Indiana, with 92% domestic content, but for which profits go back to Japan? Or the Ford Transit Connect, which is imported from Turkey and has minimal US content, but for which profits go to Ford in Dearborn, Michigan? I just think there are skills which are worthwhile keeping in the US and that only happens if having that skill here is economically viable.

[Tussiemussies]

Thanks a lot Steve for giving me the site information. I will most definitely bookmark them...

[The Storyteller]

There are degrees of sustainable, and there are degrees of local. Nobody can do 100% of either. So I do what I can.

I have found if I focus on the positive side I go less crazy.

Meaning, I look at every positive action I take (buy local vegetables, raise and sell local meat, buy used, etc) as a good thing. I don't feel guilty about every action I take that doesn't perfectly fit my beliefs.

Sometimes, I buy Walmart.