Shining a Light on American Made

Photo: Ody5iu5 on Flickr

2009 had some major rites of passage in my family. Not only did my son starting mowing the lawn this summer, he also climbed the ladder and put Christmas lights on the porch roof. He was so proud! As far as lights go, we keep things pretty simple here -- some pretty star-shaped white lights on the small porch roof and red and green lights on the bushes. But we have neighbors that go all out. Lazy squirrels, slow-moving mail carriers, and cars driving under the speed limit beware... my neighbors will decorate you. While it's more than I'm willing to do, I can definitely appreciate the humor and holiday spirit in a Christmas Vacation-worthy tacky lightfest.

But have you ever stopped to wonder where your Christmas lights come from? A quick glance at my local store showed every brand of Christmas lights on the shelf was made in China. While there certainly are brands made in the USA, they're usually not as easy to find and the prices are usually higher. But what cost comes with not buying American-made products? When you realize that each Clark Griswald light you see might very well have been made at the expense of another American's job, the glow seems to fade a little bit.

Opting for American-made toys is a pretty easy decision. Not only do toys made in the USA support American workers, the safety concerns that come with toys made in other countries are mitigated. But what about other products where the safety of your kids isn't so highly at stake? Are your appliances made in the USA? How about your TV? Your blow dryer? Your cuddly down comforter?

When I was growing up, my dad worked for one of the Big Three car manufacturers. Buying American was a big deal in our home. So much so, that my dad didn't like non-American made cars to even park in his driveway. But he's the first to admit that the lines are now so blurred, it's hard to know where to stand. Cars made by US manufacturers are loaded with both American-made and foreign-made parts. And foreign-manufactured cars are just as likely to contain American-made parts.

Even the much-discussed Buy American bill which requires the government to purchase American-made products is not as clear-cut as one might think. There are definitely some political feathers being ruffled over the prospect of buying American.

I know that I would like to make a greater effort to buy American. In these times of economic trouble, supporting the jobs of other Americans is important to me. Is buying American important to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.


Sources: Star Tribune, The Hill