When are Americans going to BUY AMERICAN?

The thing that inhibits us from buying American, is that it's usually more expensive and not made as well.

Seems like if this country wants to reinforce our own economy...we should make things to last longer at a more affordable price that the average household could actually afford...the way it was done about 50 years ago.

I would rather drive a Chevy or Ford, but my Honda has lasted 10 years and has 260,000 miles on it, and it's still running well. I would love to be patriotic and buy American... but, I in reality can't afford that luxury.

Wisdom Seeker

 

This is something that Justified has been saying for over 20 years. He sent me on a mission to buy an American made watch. This was right after Timex left America, going to Mexico and cheap labor.
There's nothing new about buying American. Free trade is probably to blame.
Maybe we should ban all imports and not allow foreign products in this country.
What it really is is the views that Wisdom has that has brought this country to the trade state that it is in. (We owned a Ford truck...240,000 mi & 10 yrs old; & a Chevy truck...275,000 mi & 17 yrs old.)
Did you know that Lexus is American made. Junk?

[ July 28, 2002, 08:38 AM: Message edited by: TheOliveBranch ]

 

This is neat! I get to chase my wife around the message boards!

But, she is right, I went for years without a watch, and alot of other things. I held out as long as possible until I just had to buy some things made else where.

As a matter of fact, the only watches that I have had since, were given to me. I still have not bought one.

As for cars we now have a '91 Escort with 145,000 miles onit and a '99 Crown Victoria with 115,000 miles on it, and basicaly no problems.

We are always quick to believe what we hear, and to lazy to do our own research.

 

Do you know what they pay auto makers in Detroit as compared to those in Japan? We are forced to cut corners on quality in order to produce an affordable automobile.

 

But not according to Wisdom. The quality is just as good. Yes, pay is much higher in Detriot than in Japan. How many of us are willing to cut our pay for lower prices? We can't, can we? We are in a situation here in these United States. We have to buy foreign, yet we cut our own throats if we do.
Or, could the answer be that if we were to spend the extra to pay our workers that in the long run we will all benefit?
Did you know that the newest thing is to buy a car, with 0% interest and just about anybody could drive a Lincoln or a Cadillac? There is no such thing as prestige in America anymore.

 

I would rather drive a Chevy or Ford, but my Honda has lasted 10 years and has 260,000 miles on it, and it's still running well[WisdomSeeker]

"We do drive a Chevy(truck), which is 20yrs. old with over 335,000 miles on the original motor & it is-well, still running. ~the only thing my "shade-tree mechanic" has ever had to replace is the water pump. We also search hi/lo to buy only American-made & our clothing is cotton(son-in-law is a cotton farmer).

[ July 28, 2002, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: GrannyGumbo ]

 

I was the second woman hired at the General Motors plant in Van Nuys California. I know thay you will probably take offense to this, but, those people that made those wonderful G.M. cars in that plant were stoned and drunk every day. How's that for quality control? That plant has since shut down because people stopped buying American cars and it wasn't prudent to keep paying people $20.00 an hour for a product that wasn't selling. I'm not saying that all Americans have a cavalier attitude as to prideful craftmanship. But, unfortunately what I've said, I've seen first hand.

Glad your cars etc. that were American made have lasted you so well. As far as the 0% interest etc. I've only seen that on Mitsubishi and Hundai. When I see it offered on Ford, Chevy, or Dodge I'll hopefully have enough of a down payment to buy myself a truck. That's what I long for.

But, I still stick by what I said before. The reason people buy foreign is because it's more affordable and made better. Maybe cutting off trade to this country would benifit it. I believe that that's what Japan's policy is... they export, but don't import... Pretty smart huh?

Sideline- Justified and Olive, I didn't know that Timex isn't made in America any more... Thanks for the information... I thought they didn't seem the same. I wear a Citizen myself... Have no idea where Citizen watches are made.

As far as wearing Cotton. I love cotton, and wish all my cloths as well as my families were made from 100% cotton. Wish polyester was eliminated it doesn't breath and appears old the first time you wash it.

Does anyone have any idea what electronics are American and good? I believe R.C.A. was American, but I don't think they are in business anymore.

Wisdom Seeker

 

Poly-what?!?!?! Oooo, that's a bad word here in the cotton farmer's house! Yes, I'm the one that spends hours in the fabric store trying to find the one bolt of fabric that is 100% USA cotton and printed in the USA...it's becoming almost nonexsistant!

Well, Justified Olive Branch , it's good to know that the Farmer and his wife aren't the only ones who hold out til we find or can afford a USA product!

What really got me was when everybody all of a sudden got 'patriotic' after September 11th and starting flying/wearing their American flags that were made in China! Now, how much sense does that make????

Consider this, what if you were at war with a certain country and you start loading the ammo in your weapon and you read these words on it..." made in... that certain country you're fighting"??? Kinda makes you wonder if you should trust it, huh?

[ July 31, 2002, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: Farmer's Wife ]

 

I have never bought anything that represented The United States of America, that was made on foreign soil. I always thought that was hypricritical, and very un-patriotic!

I went the a Western Store to purchase a new pair of boots.(American Made). I noticed that they had American Flag lapel pins, AND, that they were made right here in the good ole United States of America! First time I ever seen this.

I commended them on their stand!

 

Very little is actually made in America exclusively. Most US autos use parts that were made in other countries. There's a US auto plant in Mexico and Yugoslavia. On the other hand, the Accord is a US made car.

The Flour corp, an American Company, is most successful overseas.

There's not a single VCR made here in the US. It's too low tech to be made inexpensively in the US.

The best watches in the world are made in Switzerland.

Japanese steel is of higher quality than US steel. The best tulip bulbs come from Holland. The best beer comes from Germany and England.

I recently bought new Yokohama tires for my mexico built American car. I was amused to find my tires sported a "made in USA" stamp.

[ August 06, 2002, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

I lived in the Milwaukee area, and was driving by the new Miller's Park when Big Blue came down.

But one of the biggest concerns was the delays that were caused on the contruction of the stadium because the steel, which came from Japan (Mistibishi to be exact) all had to be re-enforced right on the construction sight, because of sub-standard steel!

And what is the whole point here, on this thread?

It is, if we want to continue to enjoy our way of life, then we as Americans, need to be a little more considerate of supporting The United Satates of America, buy being willing to try harder to purchase more American made products.

 

NAFTA=Nothing American For The American, or better known as SHAFTA.

 

[Did you know that the newest thing is to buy a car, with 0% interest and just about anybody could drive a Lincoln or a Cadillac? There is no such thing as prestige in America anymore.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Um, I have to argue. Not everyone can spend $40-$50K on a car, even with 0% interest (and yes, that is the going price tag for those vehicles). And for those of us who can, why on earth would you? I have so many other things to do with my money - How can I justify that much money for a car when the Lord has led me to better stewardship and giving more than the required 10% tithe to help with missions and ministry? I guess that would all depend on what is truly important to you.

 

I'm buying foreign, most likely. Why? I want a fuel-efficient vehicle. If Ford or Chevy manage to get a hybrid out that's close to a Prius, I might switch.

 

BUY AMERICAN! GOD BLESS AMERICA! [Eagle]

"Eagle girl, it should read- "BLESS GOD, AMERICA!"

 

"’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world."
His Farewell Address. - G. Washington

How soon we forget! Wake up America!