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I'd love to say that "Made in America" matters, but it doesn't. American Apparel may technically be made in America, but the truth is that you leave "America" once you walk into their manufacturing facilities. American Apparel is made in a "Mexican island" within Los Angeles... many the workers are they employ are working illegally in the U.S., and worse, paid like it. And even then, they are in incredible debt, and will likely be out of business soon.
I do buy "Made in America" clothing, particularly jeans, and they always cost upwards of $300. That's just the cost of running a cotton/denim mill within the U.S. by American labor, and then having those garments cut and sewn by Americans making a livable wage. Even Levi's that are still made in San Francisco cost $250+, and they have incredible purchasing power.
It's not possible to grow, pay cotton pickers, ship the cotton, spin the cotton to thread, weave those threads into fabric, design clothing patterns, cut fabric into those patterns, sew those patterns, ship the garments to stores, pay all of the associated wages/rents/upkeep/overhead, allow a typical 50% retail markup on those clothes, and then sell you a pair of jeans $30; it's just not possible in the U.S.
With the way that labor is paid in this country, even if the people working in American factories wanted to buy the clothing that they were producing, they wouldn't be able to afford it. It's a shame.
If they are working at 7 years old it's because the other option is for them and their families to starve.
I work in manufacturing. We sell a lot of stuff overseas. So I see no particular reason to support American goods over any other. If I want them to support my products I should reciprocate.
And I'll let you in on a secret. The Western world has been buying goods from China since 1299 when Marco Polo went back to Milan. And the Chinese been buying from the West since then too.
And pretty much everything you buy is made in all different countries. Parts that go in a Samsung TV are made in the same factories as any TV made in the U.S. (if there are any made in the U.S.) It don't matter what the sticker says.
It makes absolutley no difference where the good is from. Hell, an American automobile has 20,000 parts on it and those parts are made in dozens of countries. It's all good.
Most of this "Made in America" stuff is marketing. Doesn't make a lot of difference in the grand scheme of things, as it is almost a certainity that some of it touched a foreigners hands.
If you really want to support American manufacturing you should lobby Congress to get rid of silly regulations, lower business taxes and outlaw unions. That's what drives companies overseas and it's what makes it hard for Americans compete.
So in sense you want America to become like China? I read your entire post but the end caught my eye the most; countries that lack regulation such as China are the reason why 7 year olds are working so young. When I have my first child, I hope America still has its regulations and they won't be able to have a job (unless I give them a job in my office or something shredding papers or greeting people just for side cash and giving them a work-experience) at such a young age. I understand the global economy and where things come from, I stated above that when I said this:
none of my electronics are (although I'm sure they have electronic components inside that are from America)
No one country can produce everything needed for a electronic, car, or whatever that requires many components, but to say scrap regulation so you can attempt to build everything in one country would hurt not only domestically but internationally as well. Now I'm opposed to stupid regulations that could make a business owner want to move, but scraping all regulation is a step in the wrong direction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MIKEETC
Yes. My favorite furniture retailer is Room&Board and a large percentage of their products are made in the USA.
[their prices mean a lot of their stuff can only be on my wish list]
Never heard of that store before, must be a CA thing. Most of my stuff is from Ikea, Crate and Barrel, and some is from random places in NC; I'm not sure where any of its manufactured though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shooting4life
Living in palo alto is so elitist
LOL; exactly. I live on the East Coast and have never been to Palo Alto yet I still know its reputation of a elitist, wealthy place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDJD
I'd love to say that "Made in America" matters, but it doesn't. American Apparel may technically be made in America, but the truth is that you leave "America" once you walk into their manufacturing facilities. American Apparel is made in a "Mexican island" within Los Angeles... many the workers are they employ are working illegally in the U.S., and worse, paid like it. And even then, they are in incredible debt, and will likely be out of business soon.
I do buy "Made in America" clothing, particularly jeans, and they always cost upwards of $300. That's just the cost of running a cotton/denim mill within the U.S. by American labor, and then having those garments cut and sewn by Americans making a livable wage. Even Levi's that are still made in San Francisco cost $250+, and they have incredible purchasing power.
It's not possible to grow, pay cotton pickers, ship the cotton, spin the cotton to thread, weave those threads into fabric, design clothing patterns, cut fabric into those patterns, sew those patterns, ship the garments to stores, pay all of the associated wages/rents/upkeep/overhead, allow a typical 50% retail markup on those clothes, and then sell you a pair of jeans $30; it's just not possible in the U.S.
With the way that labor is paid in this country, even if the people working in American factories wanted to buy the clothing that they were producing, they wouldn't be able to afford it. It's a shame.
Sadly, I understand what you're saying in this post. I think thats a reality that most of us don't want to face, we just want to believe that buying American doesn't have any strings attached to it and people aren't working in terrible conditions because this our homeland and our homeland would never tolerate anything like that. Maybe its just to give myself comfort, I'll still try to buy from American/NATO/Regulated countries.
Never heard of that store before, must be a CA thing. Most of my stuff is from Ikea, Crate and Barrel, and some is from random places in NC; I'm not sure where any of its manufactured though.
Seems edgy which is my taste, I'll check it out one day when I have some cash on hand. LOL Looking at Google Streetview, the store looks like its in the middle of a neighborhood thats in the process of being gentrified. Those type of edgy stores are typically found on M Street/Georgetown area, so maybe that's why I'm a bit surprised by its location. Thanks for adding to my shopping addiction bud.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapperJohn
I was country when country wasn't cool. Metaphorically speaking.
LOL, country is cool? Because I'm from NC but lived in Baltimore for a good portion of my life, my dialect is a bit morphed; people can understand what I'm saying but pick on how I say some words. People around here always say "Where are you from?" and then I have to explain why I talk the way I talk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecoalman
Red Wing Boots - Made in the USA - $280
Worx Boots by Red Wing - Not Made in the USA - $120
I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay money for either of those boots, they're not really my style. But if they were my style, and the price different wasn't so large (say about $40 or $50 higher for the American made) I would go with the American made rather than the ones not Made in America unless they were made in Italy or something; if they were made in Italy and were $120, I'd go for the Italy made.
So in sense you want America to become like China? I read your entire post but the end caught my eye the most; countries that lack regulation such as China are the reason why 7 year olds are working so young. When I have my first child, I hope America still has its regulations and they won't be able to have a job (unless I give them a job in my office or something shredding papers or greeting people just for side cash and giving them a work-experience) at such a young age.
Child labor in this country was not eliminated because of regulation. If you look at Census Data kids weren't working in factories by the time it became illegal. Hadn't been for decades. Capitalism solved the problem.
Advances in technology and higher wages eliminated child labor. Same will happen in other countries if they embrace capitalism.
And no kid could work in a factory in the U.S. today anyway. Law or no law. They would be incapable. And employers know it so they wouldn't even bother with them.
It was immigrant families that had their kids in the factories. And it was only for a short period of time before the parents started make enough to support their families. The alternative was to starve to death.
Missouri did however outlaw child labor while it was still prevelant. I think that was in the 1880s but I'd have to look it up to be sure.
Now I wouldn't voluntarily buy a product if made by slave labor. That's where I draw the line. But I don't count low wages or 10 year olds as slave labor.
Child labor in this country was not eliminated because of regulation. If you look at Census Data kids weren't working in factories by the time it became illegal. Hadn't been for decades. Capitalism solved the problem.
Advances in technology and higher wages eliminated child labor. Same will happen in other countries if they embrace capitalism.
And no kid could work in a factory in the U.S. today anyway. Law or no law. They would be incapable. And employers know it so they wouldn't even bother with them.
It was immigrant families that had their kids in the factories. And it was only for a short period of time before the parents started make enough to support their families. The alternative was to starve to death.
Missouri did however outlaw child labor while it was still prevelant. I think that was in the 1880s but I'd have to look it up to be sure.
Now I wouldn't voluntarily buy a product if made by slave labor. That's where I draw the line. But I don't count low wages or 10 year olds as slave labor.
What are you talking about? Have you ever heard of the Fair Labor Standards Act? America was definitely having children doing pretty strenuous work in the early 20th Century, the FLSA prevented that for the most part; not capitalism. Am I saying capitalism or technological advancements didn't have some play in ending child labor? No, but I'm sure without the FLSA children could still pick up jobs cleaning chimneys or sewing clothes. Soon enough, humans we'll be obsolete from working in factories except for maintenance.
And why are kids working in Chinese factories then? They are far smaller than American children, yet they are "capable" of handling the machines even people such as myself wouldn't know how to use.
But I'm glad to hear you wouldn't purposely buy a product that was made by slave labor. We'll just have to agree to disagree that Capitalism can solve any and everything, I like capitalism to a degree but not complete lassie-faire.
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Most of my stuff is from Ikea, Crate and Barrel, and some is from random places in NC; I'm not sure where any of its manufactured though. 
