Buy American Products - Support American Workers!

In my recent radio commentaries, I asked people to contact me to let me know their thoughts on supporting American-made products, and to share their ideas on how we can work together as Americans to encourage businesses to relocate a portion of their manufacturing facilities to America. This is not something we should ask government to do, this is a function of small and medium size businesses as well as large corporations who are able to offer their products and services in the free market economy of America. Government's role is to keep taxes reasonable and provide tax incentives for businesses working to expand manufacturing and employment opportunities. I firmly believe that what was made in America before can certainly be made in America again, but it’s going to be up to all of us to support the effort.

Just look at the tags and boxes of the products you purchased recently; they clearly list where the items were manufactured. Should more of these products be made in America again? We certainly have to accept what happened during the last 10 to 15 years as businesses closed local facilities and moved abroad, but we don’t have to let the past be our future. If we demonstrate our concerns at the stores where we shop, if we ask to talk with store managers and let them know we want to see more American-made products on their shelves, sooner or later, the word will get to the right people, the people who need your continued business in order to make a profit and be successful.

We certainly have a skilled and dependable workforce ready and able to produce products for both American and International markets. The demand for change has to start somewhere, and I’m encouraging you to be part of the Made in America effort. As I stated before, I’m not against imported products. I’m for a balance of products, both foreign and domestic, being sold in American stores.

I’m really pleased that people are beginning to talk more about this issue because in the long run it affects everyone’s family, friends and neighbors. Working in the community, I see first hand that jobs give people a future by enabling them to pay their living expenses and healthcare costs and to save toward those unexpected needs. In order to keep what we have and make more employment opportunities possible, we all have to get involved with the Made in America effort.

One person wrote to ask me if I knew what percentage of items made in America were being sold abroad compared to the percentage of items being made abroad and sold in America.That’s a very good question. I don’t know the answer at this point, but I welcome someone to contact me with those statistics.

In a recent radio commentary, I stated that empty manufacturing facilities don’t employ people, don’t permit them to have an opportunity to support themselves and their familiesand realize the American dream. I was pleased with the responses I received. Below is a brief summary of the responses I have been receiving from my radio commentaries:

For 20 years Americans watched jobs leave without an outcry. Now, with so many industries closed and workers unemployed, we finally recognize our plight.

How do we get employment opportunities back from overseas?

For years, what made America great was its network of local businesses which supplied products locally and nationally, employed local people, and enjoyed reasonable profits. Today, foreign-made products at lower production costs, still cost American customers the same.

In order to bring businesses back, we may have to pay higher prices, but the benefits to the American economy will be worth it.

If we unite behind American workers and the Made in America label, we will be helping expand small and large businesses, union and non-union employment opportunities.

Whom can we urge to restore industry-related training in our schools?
It is without question that you and I have the power to create a demand for the “Made in America” label. We need to fill those empty manufacturing facilities with new employment opportunities and provide our workers with an opportunity to support themselves and their families. With more manufacturing jobs we will bring about a variety of management, sales, services, research and development positions and many others, which can be filled by Americans ready and able to fill these employment opportunities.

At this time, I’m encouraging you to go out of your way to ask for both American-made big-ticket items and your day-to-day purchases as well. Without your participation, things will remain the same and employment opportunities at every level will continue to leave our shores. We want to trade with the rest of the world, but at this point the balance is not in favor of American workers. Additionally, foreign manufacturers have no obligation to look out for the well-being of American workers, they are simply selling what they make to American consumers for a profit.

Michael Blichasz
I welcome your suggestions on ways to support American workers.
Email me at: Michael@MichaelSupportsAmerica.com

P.S. As a Polish American, when I go shopping at Polish markets or other ethnic specialty stores, I’m expecting to see local ethnic specialty products as well as imported items. When I go shopping at a mall or local stores, I want to see at least 50% of the items in those stores offering products made in America alongside products from around the world.