We're all aware of the serious economic issues this country faces, and one reason we are in such dire straits is that much of our manufacturing has moved offshore. We buy bargains: products from China, Bangladesh, Japan, Pakistan . . . wherever we can get the least expensive goods. Meanwhile, our own workers find themselves out of work, plants shut down, and all the ancillary support systems (transportation, storage, sales) suffer as well.
We all know that buying a $5 blouse made in Pakistan and purchased at Walmart can't possibly support a U.S. family with a head-of-household job, but the item is cute, reasonably well-made, and incredibly cheap. So we buy it. And then we usually wear it for a season and throw it out. Shoes for $8, bed linens for $12, toys for $5 . . . the lure of incredibly low prices is very strong, especially when many of us literally cannot afford anything more.
What can we do right here, right now, to make things better?
- First, patronize locally-owned businesses when you can. Avoid big-box stores if possible. Many smaller stores will match the big chain prices and provide services the larger stores won't (delivery, setup, etc.). If you choose to patronize a chain, you might want to investigate their employment policies. Costco is able to offer bargain prices and at the same time provide steady employment, good wages, and important benefits. Other chains (such as KMart and Walmart) shave costs by keeping most employees on part-time schedules, relieving management of having to provide full-time wages and benefits.
- Read labels. You may be amazed at where your products are coming from. Choose to buy items made in the U.S. whenever possible.
- Some items that you assume are from foreign countries really aren't. Toyota, Honda, and many other major auto manufacturers have plants in the U.S. and offer union-level wages and benefits. It pays to investigate big-ticket items to see where they are made.
- Visit a site like this one - http://www.americansworking.com - to find out about how you can support our economy and still buy beautiful, useful, reasonably-priced products. I spent an hour lusting after gorgeous handbags and jewelry here!
- Other sites of interest:
Buying American-made holiday gifts
Long-term, strategic actions we can take
Sometimes, bargains are more costly than we realize. The long-term effects of a short-term savings can be serious. Unemployed workers can't buy houses . . . or, frequently, enough clothing and food for their families.
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