I think a lot of us realize that it would help our economy to buy more American products, and fewer from our unfriends in Red China, Venezuela, etc.
I know, if you haunt the aisles of the local WalMart, "Made in America" stickers are distressingly rare. This just means that you have to look a little harder - and be more aware of more factors in your buying decision than just price.
First of all, I'll be posting some links to sites that list sources for various goods made in the U.S. of A.
But when you REALLY can't find something made in America (and such things do exist), an informed shopper has a fall-back position:
Buy from our friends.
The first line of allies to consider are the countries that have agreed to a "Free Trade Agreement" with the United States. This is a surprisingly long list, representing trading partners who offer our companies equal access to their markets that they get from us. These are the "good guys":
1. Australia
2. South Korea
3. Canada
4. Mexico
5. Singapore
6. Chile
7. Peru
8. Morocco
9. Bahrain
10. Colombia
11. Panama
12. Israel
13. Jordan
14. Oman
15. Malaysia
16. Thailand
17. United Arab Emirates
18. El Salvador
19. Nicaragua
20. Honduras
21. Guatemala
22. Dominican Republic
We are also in the midst of serious negotiations with the Southern Africa Customs Union, which if ratified would add more nations to the list.
If you notice some major trading partners NOT on this list, its because they persist in trying to have trade with the United States go in THEIR favor, and in fact many countries do all they can to ensure it's a One Way Street!
Countries that take strong steps to exclude American products and Services (while they enjoy virtually unfettered access to American products):
The European Union (all of it)
Red China
Japan
OPEC (except for any nations listed above - I think Bahrain is in OPEC)
These 4 comprise the huge majority of our trade imbalance problem - essentially ALL of it, really. The rest of the world doesn't want to let us have equal, fair access to their markets, either, but they just don't stack up to the problems these 4 give us.
So, there is a good list of friendly nations engaging in fair trade with the U.S. Give THEM your business when you cannot find an American source.
I'll be back shortly with some links to lists where you can buy American.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
For those who still buy from the French (I'm no longer boycotting them, but some of you are, and this will in any event give you some more common brands to consider (or take off your list):
French Company - Product or ServiceAmerican Alternative Bic Razors, Pens and HilightersGillette, Papermate, Sanford Motel 6, Red Roof Inns Shilo Inns, Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn L'Oreal, Maybelline Revlon, Clinique Athlete's Foot Foot Locker, Just For Feet Michelin, BF Goodrich, Uniroyal TiresCooper, Goodyear, Kelly-Springfield RCA TVs and AppliancesCurtis Mathes TVs, Kenmore, Whirlpool
(Curtis Mathes TVs are available at Kmart)
Dannon Yogurt and Bottled WaterColumbo, Aquafina, Dasani
(The red items are the American alternatives)
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
What Car is American? I don't need to read any article to know that every so called American manufacture builds the cars in Mexico or Canada. If they build in the US all the parts come from Canada or Mexico if not worse countries. Every American Owned company only has 23% if not less stock owned by Americans the rest by foreign people or industries. Toyota has more American built parts than American cars not that I would ever purchase a Toyota. The Automotive world has changed since the 70's and it is not worth figuring out who owns what. Buy the car that you like and at least the Sales Person might at least be a LEGAL American.
I find it quite curious that Mexico of all countries is in the 'good guys' list.
I don't think Bahrain is part of OPEC, however the UAE is.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
Stan, thank you for posting! I have to mention - I went shoe shopping this past weekend.... HA, good luck finding shoes made in the USA - I'll have to check these links out closely! Thanks again!
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
What Car is American? I don't need to read any article to know that every so called American manufacture builds the cars in Mexico or Canada. If they build in the US all the parts come from Canada or Mexico if not worse countries. Every American Owned company only has 23% if not less stock owned by Americans the rest by foreign people or industries. Toyota has more American built parts than American cars not that I would ever purchase a Toyota. The Automotive world has changed since the 70's and it is not worth figuring out who owns what. Buy the car that you like and at least the Sales Person might at least be a LEGAL American.
There is an extensive thread (threads) that cover this, and I can give you their address if you need them...
Or you can take my word for it that it "matters".
When you buy an import BRAND, between 0 and 45% of the economic benefits of that purchase stay here in the United States. "0" of course refers to the many import brands to make all their products in foreign countries. Some of the "transplants" (companies like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, BMW and Mercedes) who build some of their models and who buy some of their parts here in the states contribut a percentage of that value to the U.S. The numbers for the Big Three are much higher, with Ford at nearly 80%, GM at about 70% and Chrysler somewhere in the mid 60's (though this number is obsolete, now that Chrysler is once again American owned - I would estimate the actual number to be close to 80%, particularly after they close down 2 Canadian factories). The Big three also ALWAYS have the highest percentage of American made parts in their cars (overall - this varies by model, of course).
Much of the money that flows to the American economy occurs because those companies are headquartered here - pay a full slate of taxes here - and the profits from their world-wide operations flow HERE, rather than Tokyo, Beijing or Stutgart. The engineering, design, and corporate governance costs all stay here.
So it DOES mean something to drive an "American" car, even if the tranny was made in Mexico or the Starter in Malaysia! As the costs of importing goods from foreign lands go up (one of the results of the cheaper American dollar), the trend toward importing major components will go DOWN. Each year, more and more of the content in the cars will be local. Canada has already lost the long-time "cheap currency" advantage (as they should), while Mexico is in the process of quickly losing theirs as time goes on.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
I make an effort... With some things there is no choice. Try to buy a hard drive or memory stick that was not made in China....
I think some of the other asian countries make hard drives. South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and so on.
Can't say aobut memory sticks. I avoid Sony products (long story - has to do with a nasty book Mr. Sony wrote decades ago), but I'll check to see what I can find.
Samsung is a South Korean company who produces hard drives in South Korea. They also produce most brands of flash drives there, though I didn't see a listing that they were licensing the Memory Stick products from Sony.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Stan, thank you for posting! I have to mention - I went shoe shopping this past weekend.... HA, good luck finding shoes made in the USA - I'll have to check these links out closely! Thanks again!
Actually, there are a number of American companies making shoes. I saw some of them listed.
If you have trouble finding them, post here and I'll help look.
I am sure there are, but try and find them in the stores.... I'll check over those links! Thanks so much!
Most (virtually all) shoe stores are very focused on the amount of markup they can extract. The cheaper the wholesale price, the larger the markup.
I buy ALL my shoes via the internet now. For one thing, it gives me access to American made products that are often hard to find (due to the markup issue). Oddly enough, I find that I am now wearing higher quality shoes, and spending about the same amount of money. This is all made possible by the internet, and its something that I now use extensively.
Some people think I'm crazy, spending hours researching sources for things I want to buy, rather than just climbing in my car, driving all over Atlanta through stop and go traffic, searching...
Oops, I think the logic of my method just got outed!
My time is valuable. So is wear and tear on my Mustang, and do I really have to mention the cost of gasoline?
Save the planet. Buy American goods on line. Or from the countries that allow us a level, free trade playing field, when no American made alternatives exist. As a last resort, buy from coutries that AREN'T totalitarian dictatorships bent on burying us!
Then hold up your head with pride. You did your part.
UPDATE: American Made Shoes This looks like the place. I have heard of Magdesians shoes for women (link on page one). Might be what you are looking for.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Time To Buy American! 
