Yes, I confess, I FAILED to "buy American" this past week. I did try though, honest. Let me explain.
I flew up to visit my daughter last week, and was going to take care of some "daddy do" issues on her house. Being a young single girl, who isn't into fix-its, she was very limited on the tools in her toolbox. And, being away from my home shop, I didn't have mine. (The TSA frowns on taking those aboard! I still miss my pocket multi-tool!)
So, it was off to the hardware store for a couple small hand-tools. Each time I go to her place, I try to add to her tool inventory, and this was another of those times. You know how it is though, you might not know you need a tool, until you actually need it!
I go to a nationally known chain store to purchase a couple tools. Tools, that I needed that morning to take care of some repair issues at my daughter's house. Upon seeing the tools I needed, I saw I had a few choices. Okay, I thought to myself, which ones are Made in America tools?
I picked up a KOBALT brand tool, and looked on the back. "Made in China." Nope. I pick up a "CRESCENT" brand tool. I know of Crescent, so I felt sure I'd be good to go. "Made in China."You're kidding me", I almost said aloud. Okay, I'll look at my last choice for that tool, and picked up a BOSTITCH brand. Again, "Made in China"! CRAP! No Made in the USA adjustable wrenches there.
But I needed the tool, so I bought one of the "Made in China" tools. I hated to, but had NO CHOICE in that store, at that time.
What else do I need? Another isle, and some other choices to make. I see a SKIL brand tool, and figure I'm at lease in business for that tool. Nope! "Made in China"! Now I'm pissed. Had it not been for the repairs I needed to make, I'd walked out. But I needed the tools.
Okay, I'll go to the BLACK & DECKER model. Everyone knows BLACK & DECKER, right? I looked on the back of the box, and what did I see? "Made in China at a Black & Decker manufacturing facility." Instantly, I called out, "SHIT!" (That WAS aloud!)
Hell, even the screwdrivers, were made in China, and I thought a STANLEY would be safe. NOT!
Now, I will say, I didn't inventory the complete stock, so it could be that some of those brands had some tools that were "Made in America". But from what did see, none of them were. I even looked at tools I didn't readily need.
So how many people, our fellow Americans, are out of work, and NOT making tools that say, "Made in America"? Some 23 million Americans either out of work, or under-employed. Because of cheaper goods? (If you're a tool guy, you know that a "cheap tool" will often leave you wanting for better. Oh ----- and just because it says "Lifetime guarantee", doesn't mean it will last for your lifetime. It only means they'll keep replacing the broken POS!)
I see a tremendous opportunity here. If I had the business sense and financial backing, I'd open a Made in America tool store, just for discerning do-it-yourselfers like me! Wouldn't it be great, to walk in such a store and KNOW that every item in the store, was made by your fellow Americans! And yes, I'd pay more. And what about products other than tools? What about kitchen gadgets? Housewares? Yard tools? A "Made in America" store to serve our basic needs for such things, would be my favorite store!
For a business to make a "business decision", for increased profits and a return to investors, moving manufacturing jobs overseas may be "financially sound". But we need to tax those foreign made goods in such a way to put them on a more-even playing field with Made in America products. Cheap wages and poor living conditions, so the tools are cheaper, does NOT make for a good trading partner. And buying those products, only enables those countries to continue their labor practices. Add tariffs, commensurate to the labor practices and human rights practices the country has, and then we'll talk!
Meanwhile, I will do what I can, and shop for those Made in America products. I'll pay more for them, but when I need a tool, I need a tool!
Sign me an American-made man, using a TOSHIBA laptop, MADE IN CHINA! Damn!!!!
