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Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

topic posted Sun, February 22, 2009 - 12:07 PM by  ~Sasha~ 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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This phase I'm going through is probably due to the current economic toilet we're all swimming in. You know.... you're all feeling it. Jobs are being lost left and right. Those with jobs are (or might) endure pay cuts. Our 401ks are worth half what they were worth. Yada, yada, yada.

For the past few weeks, I've found myself in a very "buy American" mood. I'm tired of all of our money going to China or India or wherever. The US is called upon to take care of the world. Why aren't we taking care of our own?

Anyway, my goal for the forseeable future is to, unless there is DAMNED good reason, to buy American. Hell, I'm even going to try to buy my own STATE's products first. For example, I live in Phoenix. Dial products are made in Scottsdale (I know, they used to be a client of mine when I was working for a large consulting organization). I'm only buying Dial brand body washes, Purex detergent, etc. Back in January, I placed an order for a bra/belt set from Dahlal. It will likely be my last one for a while as I've decided to have a local costuming guru make covered bras and skirts for me and I will do my own beadwork on them. Next, the search is on for American made beads and things (if any of them are made here!).

I think we should take a step back, since we are scrutinizing every penny we're spending, to make the effort to put those pennies back into American businesses, to keep Americans employed.

I'm starting my own little research project to come up with vendors of things made here. As I find sources, I'll be happy to post them.

For starters, I found this website that I plan to buy from (haven't done it yet):

www.madeinusaforever.com/index.html

Looks like a site that sells jeans, t-shirts, jackets, etc. that are made here in the US. I glanced at the women's jeans webpage and it appears that they will even hem your jeans to your own inseam measurements for free! That's pretty cool (especially if you're only 5'0" as I am).

Anyway, if anyone else knows of any other products made in the US, websites that sell products made in the US, I encourage everyone to post the info. It's our small way of helping put people back to work.

Oh, and yes, when my car dies (a Pontiac Grand Prix), I plan on purchasing another GM or Ford auto. I understand *some* Toyotas and Nissans are made here in the US, but not all of them. I would only consider models made here.

I'm tired of this shit. Is anyone else?
posted by:
~Sasha~
offline ~Sasha~
Phoenix
224 friends
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  • Ange...
    Angelia-CreationsByAngelia
    offline 197

    Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

    Sun, February 22, 2009 - 2:40 PM
    I just wish that the fabric that all of these items are made out of was from the us...

    All the fabric I'm able to find is NOT made in the us...

    BUT... all of my items ARE!!! (in my garage/studio)

    I try to buy US made as well...

    Local groceries is a big one for me... YUM!
    I cant wait for produce stands to start opening up!
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    • Velv...
      Velvet Fifi
      offline 78

      Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

      Sat, March 7, 2009 - 1:30 PM
      I totally understand understand about the fabric thing. I dye, paint, gutta, do theatrical backdrops now, you name it, in silk. I make all of it, but the dyes and resists, etc. are a mix of USA or French. (It has to do with what is available and who makes the best product for the application), and the silk is from china - and that's just not going to change because I don't see anyone in the US doing anything with a silkworm over here. However, one piece of fabric, for me to design, dye, paint, pleat (multiple applications) can take anywhere from 2-4 days. (Maybe I should just rent this stuff out - no one can afford to buy it). Anyway, so - how do I justify this? where else can I get high-quality silk? Is it even ever going to be in the US? I'll just try to keep as much as I can in the local neighborhood. Burts Bees stuff, locally grown food, You just have to do what you can and realize we live in a world economy and have to be smart about this stuff and take it day by day. If there is a choice, go local first, then regional, the country, then finally as a last resort, outside of our borders.

      Le Sigh...
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  • Bibia
    Bibia
    offline 177

    Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

    Sun, February 22, 2009 - 3:28 PM
    I'm doing the same thing, but when I bought my car I bought a Honda Civic because of the realiability rather than it being Japanese make, although it was made in Buffalo NY.
    I am buying American whenever I can and everything else can go to someone else.
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    • ~Sasha~
      ~Sasha~
      offline 224

      Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

      Sun, February 22, 2009 - 3:37 PM
      It's amazing how much of the "stupid" stuff. I just tossed out a tube of Nivea Soft hand lotion. It was empty-ish... empty enough for me to want to toss it. But when I read on the back where it was made (not in the US) it made me think. I feel this need to check where things are made before I commit to buying them.

      It's so sad to see so many places closing, stores, manufacturers, etc. There are too many people out of jobs now. I do think that part of the problem is all of this cheap crap coming into the US from other countries. I'm much more concerned with American citizens having jobs than those in other countries. I personally think we need to take care of our own first.

      As my own stuff breaks, is consumed, wears out, whatever, I *will* look for American-made brands first. Not what's on sale. Not what's convenient. I figure that if I can't be part of the solution, then that makes me part of the problem. I'm not comfortable being part of the problem.

      <steps off of soapbox>
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  • Amy
    Amy
    offline 4

    Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

    Wed, March 18, 2009 - 11:44 AM
    I'm all for buying local, but I'm a little disturbed by the tone of your post...

    There are lots of developing countries around the world that depend on their exports to support their economy. In these times of economic crisis, these countries are in a seriously bad position. Maybe you could consider expanding your campaign to include exports that originate in countries which aren't already huge economic powerhouses? I don't mean just you, but anyone who is feeling the same.

    Maybe I'm biased - but buy South African! We make lovely wine. We export beautiful fruit. We have great designer clothing.

    The economy is global, and I think it would be a mistake for us to all turn inward to protectionism to try to deal with the econonmic crisis.
    Just my thoughts.. use them, dont use them.

    But while we're on the topic of non-bellydance boycotts - we should all be boycotting Unilever and Proctor and Gamble. They make about 50% of all cosmetics and almost 80% of shampoo, and continue to test on animals. And i think they are American companies...
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    • Paci...
      Pacifica Funkster
      offline 82

      Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

      Wed, March 18, 2009 - 11:55 AM
      Unilever = UK & Netherlands based.
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      • Dian
        Dian
        offline 171

        Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

        Wed, March 18, 2009 - 5:29 PM
        I try to simply be more careful about where I spend my money. I prefer mom and pop shops to large chain stores and I try to support small or independent craft people or business people because I want them to stick around. These are the folks that provide the unique items I am often looking for. I really do agree that our economy has become global and while it is important for folks here in the US to keep working, it's nice to keep people working everywhere.
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        • ~Sasha~
          ~Sasha~
          offline 224

          Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

          Fri, March 20, 2009 - 10:38 AM
          IMHO, this country is bleeding internally. The internal bleeding has to stop before you start worrying about the extremities. If I'm in a traffic accident, I want the doc to stop my chest or my stomach from bleeding before he worries about setting my broken leg.

          What good are we to the developing world (or the developed world, or other words in between) if our own people are losing jobs, losing homes, and don't have the $ to put food on the table to feed their own children...HERE? If we can stop the internal bleeding by buying local, we can help preserve jobs, which in turn means more discretionary income (which is at 0 for many people now) so that we can buy stuff made elsewhere.

          How can we take care of anyone else if we can't take care of ourselves?
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          • Amy
            Amy
            offline 35

            Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

            Wed, March 25, 2009 - 2:26 PM
            <<How can we take care of anyone else if we can't take care of ourselves?>>

            But is engaging in protectionism truly "taking care of ourselves"? Or is it denying citizens the availability of a wide range of widely priced goods? Removing incentives for American producers to compete globally and thus produce better, cheaper products internally? Discouraging international trade with our country?
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            • ~Sasha~
              ~Sasha~
              offline 224

              Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

              Wed, March 25, 2009 - 6:29 PM
              <<Removing incentives for American producers to compete globally and thus produce better, cheaper products internally?>>

              But, alas, the products produced elsewhere are NOT better *and* cheaper (unless we're talking BMWs or Ferraris). Things like clothing are cheaper because labor is cheaper. They are not of better quality. Just walk into a Walfart and it is evident.

              I'm a former IBMer. I left Big Blew almost 2 years ago. I'm glad I did that when I did (I left on my own accord). Why? Because I.T. jobs are being off-shored to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China). So I'm not talking about jeans here, I'm talking about technology talent. Tomorrow, the ax is going to fall for 5,000 IBM employees as their jobs are moved to India. The insult to injury is that many people who have already been fired by IBM (quietly, not loud enough to hit the news) have had to *train* their own replacements in India or wherever. I would be in that boat, assuming I stayed there this long. How are these people going to pay their mortgages? Feed their kids? Don't even mention college tuition.

              Why is IBM doing this? Because labor outside of the U.S. is cheaper. No, not better. Just cheaper. They are willing to work for pennies on the dollar.

              When jobs are lost for whatever reason, the system breaks down. We cannot buy things. The manufacturers cannot sell things. That leads to more job losses. It's a vicious cycle.

              So if you want to label me as a U.S. Protectionist, then I'll wear that badge PROUDLY! I care about the U.S. first. My parents came from Eastern Europe to NY, applied for and ultimately became U.S. citizens. Why? Because this country, even with all of it's problems, is the leader of the free world. There is a reason millions of people try to cross these borders every year (legally or not, I won't get into that debate). The only way we can, as a nation, be in a position to assist the rest of the world is if we take care of ourselves and fix our own house. Then, and only then, will we be strong enough to support the rest of the world.

              I stand by that. Agree...Disagree...You are free and entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine.
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              • Amy
                Amy
                offline 35

                Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

                Thu, April 16, 2009 - 9:30 AM
                <<But, alas, the products produced elsewhere are NOT better *and* cheaper (unless we're talking BMWs or Ferraris). Things like clothing are cheaper because labor is cheaper. They are not of better quality. Just walk into a Walfart and it is evident. >>

                A few observations: Perhaps in Wal-Mart, but not on car lots. Cheaper labor is not always underpaid labor. The overall cost of goods is more than just labor--for example, a more efficient manufacturing process will also lower costs. Job loss is only a societal-wide problem if it is not balanced by job growth in another area. In that case, it's just the market adjusting and expanding into new areas. And, even the great Obama has annouced that jobs that have been outsourced overseas are not coming back, so trying to put the horses back in the barn at this point is perhaps fruitless.

                And, of course, on an individual level we are all free to make our own choices, and more power to you. But, in my life experience, I find that "buy American to help Americans" can quickly devolve into "buy American, or you're a traitor, and we should all be forced to buy only American and tariff the hell out of imports."
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              • Naj
                Naj
                offline 81

                Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

                Sun, May 31, 2009 - 8:20 AM
                Sasha I am a proud member of Local First AZ localfirstaz.com/index.php# We have done studies to show that it does make a difference in local economies. For example, if you shop a chain rather than a local business, $.32 cents more stays in the state because revenue goes to corporate and support out of state.. Though it is a global economy problem. I really believe we have to try to improve our economy, first.

                Tax incentives to send the jobs overseas is a big problem... and all we can do about that is call your senators and representatives.

                Unfortunately, for bellydance items I have to buy items from out of the Country. However, I try to check my suppliers out a bit. For example, my veil supplier is a medical doctor, who helps his lady patients get back in the work force. AND i market tout of country to help the balance of trade. In fact, almost 25% of my sales have been to the Orient in the last 4 months.... Japan, Hong Kong and China.

                It is a global economy. My thoughts are help locals first if possible. Then do for the world.
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  • alecia
    alecia
    offline 12

    Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

    Sun, March 22, 2009 - 6:42 PM
    Buy Local Food. Eat In-Season Produce. Support Small Farms.

    Everyone I know buys a lot more lettuce than new cars, buying from local farmers and eating food from your own county (never mind country) will do your local economy a whole lotta good, much more than worrying about car parts.
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    • Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

      Tue, March 24, 2009 - 6:37 AM
      Local fresh food tastes better! And is much better for you!

      The problem is in places where winter is cold there is no locally grown fresh produce. Lettuce and berries won't grow under a foot of snow :(
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      • Ange...
        Angelia-CreationsByAngelia
        offline 197

        Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

        Tue, March 24, 2009 - 10:03 AM
        helen...
        BUT there are lots of places in areas like that, who keep greenhouses! I have friends in Upper BC who run a WOOD STOVE in the greenhouse all year round so they can have fresh greens!! Peas and things like that.

        Its a long shot... but yah... I'm to the point that I'm starving for fresh fruits and veggies and will do almost anything to get them. if they taste good....

        I'm glad my local store has upgraded the organics department, but they still seem to try and put the smallest weakest looking produce in there, and then charge an arm and a leg for it!
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  • dina
    dina
    offline 27

    Re: Boycotting stuff NOT made in the USA...as much as possible.

    Sat, March 28, 2009 - 2:32 PM
    While I can understand your enthusiasm - as an economist I would like to throw in the 1930s economic crisis got real bad at the moment protectionism and isolationism world-wide kicked in, and international trade, the engine of ALL economies, began stuttering.
    The same fear is voiced now by major economists - once one country starts it, all the others will likely feel forced to follow.
    And it is BAD FOR ALL.
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