Made in America

Everywhere I look, I see people make a point about “Made in America”.  I dig it.  But get real!. People want to buy American because they want to support the economy or because of perceived quality.

However, there are problems with that idea.

First, people want a bargain.  They want American but they buy cheap.  Why in the hell do you think, when there are American versus foreign products side-by-side, the foreign item will outsell the American item.  Price and price only.  Admittedly, it is about labor costs.  But let’s face it, people will shop a bargain over patriotism and that is a fact.  What really frosts me about this is when you see an item selling for a ridiculously cheap price, you will have some idiot ask, “Is it made in America?”  Why, yes!  Someone made this for $1.00 an hour.  Idiot!

Second, companies chase labor costs.  They are moving overseas and will continue to move overseas because our labor costs are too high for them.  I am not disagreeing with the costs.  If anything, we are not paying our people enough.  The problem is that American cannot compete on labor.  Simple.  And it is not going to change.  Third, even if you want to produce a “Made in America” item it may be impossible.  If you rely on suppliers for some of you components, you may not be able to source those components from American suppliers (see above), no matter how much you want to.  So now you are seeing such things as “Designed in America” and “Produced in America” and such.

Third, the perception of American-made being better is not always true.  The quality from overseas producers can, and often is, as good as anything made here.  And let’s face it, you can buy junk made in the good old U.S.A. too.

Ironically, even when you are advocating “Made in America” you may not be saving or creating American jobs.  Why?  Because some manufacturing are returning to America but not many jobs.  In a word: Robotics.  So your “Made in America” may be produced by robotics, maybe developed and produced overseas, with just a couple of employees and no real American job impact.  Goody, goody.

So, the next time you head the redneck chant “Made in America” remember that there is more to it than the statement.  And like anything else, someone should actually think about it before they start chanting.