No longer made in America.

[Historic NY]

The American flags we wave at parades.
Those yellow, car decals that say, "Support the Troops."
Even George Bush's "Made in America" baseball cap, the one only the commander in chief wears.
All products NOT made in America.
It wasn't that long ago that "Look for the union label" was both an annoying TV jingle we couldn't get out of our heads and an anthem for American shoppers.
Now?
Well, now we hardly even look to see if a product we want is made in America.
Why?
Well, fewer things are manufactured here.
Whether it's clothes or cars, American shoppers say they simply can't find American-made products.

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/21/america1.htm

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. I make it a point to buy american

It takes a little effort to do this, but it can be done.

[justinsb]

2. I make it a point not to buy American

Sorry folks, but if the only way to stop agression is to get to the point that the US can't afford to send troops overseas then so-be-it. I can't in good conscience spend money on US products knowing that part of that money will ultimately go to war in Iraq and elsewhere.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. You are only hurting workers

The government is getting money from your purchasing dollar either way.

[justinsb]

9. No, they're not

I'm in Canada

[MadHound]

7. Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense friend

All you are doing with your spending habits is insuring that American workers don't have jobs. One way or another, Bushco is going to get the monies needed to carry out his war. By buying from overseas, you are putting American workers out of business, and into a situation where their only option for continuing employment is to join one of the Iraqi merc companies(KBR, Haliburton, etc.) or join the Army itself. Thus, you aren't preventing the tax money(which is an income tax, not a sales tax or tariff) but you are also insuring a pool of good military candidates that have no other option. Not bright friend, not bright at all.

[justinsb]

10. Sorry you don't agree

but, it's my very own form of sanctions against the US - for launching an illegal war amoung a great number of other things. Should the US turn around, withdraw all of it's troops back inside it's own borders, begin to make restitution to countries adversely affected by US foreign policy, reafirm and reinforce human and civil rights at home, and sign the pertinent international treaties relating to nuclear proliferation, land mines, the rights of children, global warming, and the International Criminal Court - then I'll rethink my position.

[MadHound]

13. Somehow I don't think that you understand what I'm trying to say friend.

Your spending habits are not going to make anything better, just worse. Bush is not getting his war money from taxes or tariff on items that are bought. He is getting his money by either running up the defecit, or from income taxes. Since most manufacturing jobs have already gone overseas, those income taxes are coming from the service sector, therefore unless you are boycotting everything, you will be unable to avoid helping out the war machine.

But by not buying US made products, you are forcing more and more people into poverty, thus making them perfect fodder for the Army, thus you are helping the war. Do you understand?

The best way to stop this war is to change public opinion of it. By boycotting all things American, all you are doing is throwing people out of work and into the armed forces. You are not depleting Bushco of one thin dime for his illegal, immoral war, you're just hurting your fellow citizens.

I approve of your spirit in this matter, but your tactics are misguided.

[justinsb]

15. Again, I think you're wrong

I admit it's not a pleasant way to go about it, but incumbents do not do well in a bad economy. I am not in the US, so yes, I'm boycotting everything. I do not use US products or services when I can at all avoid it.

[MadHound]

18. So in an effort to hasten the economic meltdown,

You are willing to throw Americans off the rolls of the employed, and into the clutches of the military. Is that what you're saying?

By the by, you do realize, being a Canadian, or even on this planet, that when the American economy goes down the tubes, it will take the rest of the world with it. Think Great Depression, only multiplied a few times.

[justinsb]

22. The American Economy is going that way anyway

It will take generations to pay off the debt. My guess is that half of the Federal budget will go to simply paying the interest on that debt. Fortunately, everyone sees it coming and the Government here is busily working out trade deals with China, Taiwan, the EU, Mexico, India and South American countries to cushion the blow. Most of what Canada exports is in high demand in China right now. I really bear no ill will toward Americans - I have friends and family there (most of whom support me in this) but trying to prop up the US economy will only enbolden the conservatives. If things are going well economically, they will assume they've been doing things right.

[MadHound]

24. You're falling into the same trap that those you hate fall into

Short term thinking. It is that short term thinking that got America into this mess, but it won't get the US, or the rest of the world out.

And despite whatever trade agreements you or the rest of the world work out, if the US economy collapses, it WILL take down the rest of the world. Your markets will be severly cut, since the US is the number one consumer country in the world. Even if you trade with China, China won't be able to afford your goods and services, since their US markets dried up. That's the bitch about living in a global economy friend, what hurts one nation ripples around the world and hurts virtually all nations.

And you have yet to answer why you wish to see Americans thrown off the employment rolls and into the military ranks, and why is this a good thing?

Don't fall for the trap of short term thinking friend, while it may look good and feel good right now, it can turn around and bite you a few years down the road.

[justinsb]

25. I'm assuming that you

were opposed to sanctions against South Africa too - even though they succeeded in ending apartheid?

[MadHound]

27. You know the old saying about assume friend

Ass-u-me

South Africa was a bit different situation. For one thing, if you brought down the South African economy, you wouldn't be dragging down the rest of the world with it.

Do you really wish to spite your face that bad that you will cut off you nose to do it? You live in Canada, do you realize how vunerable you and your economy is to flucuations in the US economy?

Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I'm a rah-rah U-S-A type of person, never have been, never will be. But rather than going completely overboard in destroying this country, let us be selective, and use precision to bring down the government instead.

Anyhow, again I ask, would you rather see massive unemployment and massive military enlistments instead? For like I said before, that is a real possibility in the scenario you are proposing. Please answer the question and don't shrug it off again.

[justinsb]

28. No, I would hope that people wouldn't choose to kill

innocent people for a living, but there are many unemployed in the US now who aren't taking that route - enlistment is in fact way down. So, I guess I don't even buy your scenario. I am not alone in this, there are people around the world - some organized, some not who are boycotting US products and services (even some in the US). Even if you convinced me, which you haven't, it would only be a drop in the bucket. The US needs to get it's house in order, and change it's approach to the world. Iraq is not the issue, or not the only issue, but the most recent symptom of a mind set that has prevailed since the end of WWII. I hope that things change, and that the US decides to rejoin the world community but the 'superpower' days are over, and the economic impact of the US is dwindling daily. Americans need to brace themselves for a deminished standard of living that will likely be permanent.

[progressivebydesign]

17. So.. did you support the sanctions against Iraq?

You know, the ones that were starving the children?

[justinsb]

26. The problem with the sanctions against Iraq

was that there was no way out of them. Even when Iraq had complied with all of the demands, withdrawn from Kuwait, dismantled their WMD program etc. the sanctions remained in place.

I assume you opposed the sanctions against apartheid South Africa?

[MsUSA]

3. If I find anything with the made in USA label, I always buy 2.

[Double T]

5. I'm With You!!! I Always Check For The Country Of Origin.......

BUY AMERICAN.... THE JOB YOU SAVE WILL BE YOUR OWN

[readmylips]

4. Two things I find Made In America....

my two kids.

[mongo]

8. You can still find products made in the usa in my store.

I've started doing most of my lingerie business with Elegant Moments, because most of their lines are made in Pa. The ones that aren't are made in Canada.

Most of the lubs are made in the USA too: Probe, Wet, Motion lotion, ID, Foreplay.

Our naughty greeting cards are printed in the USA too.

There are still a few toys made in the USA, but it is mostly the high-end, "cyber-skin" (and the knockoff to that). California Exotics makes a few, and Las vegas Novelties. I would have more US products in my toy section if I wasn't in such a depressed area. I can't get people to pay 20.00 for a bullet that will last them forever, when they can get the cheap ass one that will break in 2 month for 10.95. There are a few really good high end silicone pourers that make their products by hand - but again, it is just a tad pricey for my customers. And 80% of my BDSM dept is hand made by a friend in Columbus.

And of course, 99% of my movies are made in Chatsworth Ca. I do have a few from Private Entertainment that are mostly Italian movies dubbed (however badly) into english.

If I have a choice, I will buy American. Shirley of Hollywood used to make a lot of lingerie in America, but they have moved most of their manufacturing to Mexico over the last few years.

[justinsb]

11. Believe it or not

There are now more cars made in Ontario than in Michigan. Know why? It's not because of wages, wages here are comperable and the employees are unionized, it's not because of environmental or safety regulations - those are actually tougher here. It's because we have a strong national pension plan and universal health care so the manufacturers don't have to fork out for those benefeits. Ontario makes more cars because we are MORE socialist and progressive.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. The irony is delicious.

The western nations reduced the rest of the world to poverty by colonial exploitation. Then we "protected" them from Communism by killing millions of them.

Now, they have turned the "free market" capitalism that we introduced and maintained with brute force against us.

In the meantime, our government pursues endless, expensive, wars while bestowing tax breaks on the very people who are exporting jobs to "compete" with the countries we plundered.

When I was a kid, "Made in Japan" was a joke about shoddy merchandise. Today it means just the opposite, and "Made in the USA" has taken over as the butt of that joke.

[trogdor]

23. Actually, it's "Made In China."

Most US-made stuff is actually high quality. It has to be in order to compete with crap made by people who make 30 cents an hour. Cars is the exception, and it's more the engineering and the corporate culture than it is the union guys on the assembly line. The Honda I drive to work every day was made in Ohio, and it's just as good as it would have been if it were made in Japan. You can't just say, "Americans can't make good stuff," because it just isn't true. We just can't make poorly-designed stuff with inferior materials good enough to compete with China.

[Divameow77]

14. I buy what I want

I just can't let where it is made influence what I buy anymore, especially clothes, it would be too hard to buy only American. My van is a Dodge Van though, but that's because I couldn't afford the Toyota. I like to buy the best quality and that isn't always American.

[progressivebydesign]

19. Wow.. did you wander in from some other planet, or what?

The best quality in clothes is 99% NOT imported. I am willing to live with less in order to support my fellow workers. Your attitude is downright.. well.. Reaganesque!

[Deja Q]

16. When the oil crash comes, this will affect everybody.

Short term profit only works when there are infinite quantities of resources and people. Unfortunately, the idea that a disposable society with disposable people can work is beyond asinine.

[AndyTiedye]

21. Those Asian Companies That Are Making All This Stuff...

...don't operate on the basis of short-term profits, while our execs do.
That is a problem. Oil, or lack thereof, has little to do with it.

Expensive oil would drive up the cost of transportation, but that won't
affect the flow of consumer electronics from the Orient -- that stuff is
relatively small and light. They can even send it by sailing ship if
they have to -- the prevailing winds are in the right direction.

Big stuff, like cars, they already build here -- at least their highest-volume
models. Toyota isn't building Priuses here yet, but they have a
plant for that in the works.

[AndyTiedye]

20. I Buy American When an American Company Gets it Right

This is a Ford Escape Hybrid. Made in Kansas City.
I think it is the ONLY hybrid automobile made in the USA.