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Let's do our Christmas shopping in the USA

pixie

pixie

Well-known member
Found this on another forum. Sounds great to me :clap::clap:



Its one of the best ideas to come down the pike in awhile. I agree with it whole heartedly . . . . .We got to get this country back on track and this is one way to do it!

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. YES THERE IS!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
As Tiny Tim said, "May God bless us, each and every one."

Got any creative ideas of your own? Add them on and pass along
 
Great post! We need to support our home town merchants or they will all be run out by the big box places selling foreign stuff. I went to 3 places and could not find American made timers for my fans the other day. Sad that we can't make things here anymore.
 
Another thought here. there are many craftsmen across the country making unique items that range from fairly cheap to OMG. Go looking for a woodworker with a small business and check out their boxes, chests, beds and knickknacks. Or try to find someone who makes decorative gourds. Many of these items are reasonably priced, especially considering the amount of time and detail they require.
 
Probably one of the best posts I've seen in a long time.

As for other home-grown American made items, how about GIFT CERTIFICATES or items from the local bakery, in addition to the local restaurants, local hardware store (not the big box chain) or even the Dog Groomer (people pamper their pets!)

I would have never thought of the barber shop, but that one is brilliant.
 
Enceladus said:
Wish I thought of it! You could buy everyone a new Ford, their mostly made in America with government money,
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Perhaps you mean a GM or Chrysler as Ford didn't take any government money. Oh and most of American made cars are made in Canada and Mexico with only a few exceptions. You really need to look at BMW, Volkswagen, Nissan and Toyota if you want a car actually built in the US.
 
but BMW, Volkswagon, etc. the profits go across both ponds!

I am sorry, it was suppose to be "without" government money and thanks for keeping me straight.
 
Enceladus said:
but BMW, Volkswagon, etc. the profits go across both ponds!

I am sorry, it was suppose to be "without" government money and thanks for keeping me straight.
Click to expand...

As for the money going over the pond part will, but the wages paid to workers in this country won't nor the taxes paid by them will. It usually stays pretty much in the location where they work. We have a Toyota Plant up the road from us here in Kentucky. It probably pays the best in the area with starting pay at $10 per hour for the first 6 months then you are either laid off or hired full time making $14 per hour. Their work rules are also a bit on the harsh side as well though the work isn't that difficult.
 
Point taken, but the wages are low, but then you are competing with the rest of the world.

I think I do not like it much either way you go!

Oh, I really like bantering with you, but I am going to have to read up or check with FrancSeven, if I keep taking you on.

Have a really great day! (no sarcasm intended)
 
Enceladus said:
but BMW, Volkswagon, etc. the profits go across both ponds!
Click to expand...
I'm casually shopping for a new mid-size car, probably will be buying one sometime next spring.

The two I like the best are the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the VW Passat TDI.

Both are right at $32K loaded up they way I want them.
  • The VW is a German car made in Tennessee.
  • The Ford is an American car made in Mexico using rare earth minerals in its battery system that come from China.
I'm leaning heavily toward the VW.

As for Christmas shopping its proving difficult to find MADE IN AMERICA gifts that are durable goods. Consumables are easy to find, many of which are made/available locally. Durables, on the other hand, seem to be imported.
 
Melensdad said:
I'm casually shopping for a new mid-size car, probably will be buying one sometime next spring.

The two I like the best are the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the VW Passat TDI.



Both are right at $32K loaded up they way I want them.
  • The VW is a German car made in Tennessee.
  • The Ford is an American car made in Mexico using rare earth minerals in its battery system that come from China.
I'm leaning heavily toward the VW.

As for Christmas shopping its proving difficult to find MADE IN AMERICA gifts that are durable goods. Consumables are easy to find, many of which are made/available locally. Durables, on the other hand, seem to be imported.
Click to expand...

I looked at them yesterday while going to get my new car. I picked up a 2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0 that was made here in Kentucky and repossessed with only 25,500 miles on it was delivered to me yesterday. Got it for a pretty good price considering it looks like it just came off the assembly line. It is replacing my Van which was totaled Saturday.

Back on topic though I really liked the Ford Fusion myself.
 
I own a 2009 Fusion and I am more than happy with it, best car I have ever owned with a 89 Chevy Lumina I had for over ten years with only needing a alternator in all that time, coming in a close second if the Fusion last that long.
 
Well the Fusion Hybrid has a trunk that is significantly smaller than the VW Passat's trunk (it is also significantly smaller than the gasoline Fusion's trunk).

The Fusion, despite being a Hybrid, it still can't match the fuel economy of the VW diesel engine in the type of driving we do here (we don't live near a city). So the Fusion has a couple major drawbacks.
 
I prefer products made in Canada. When I bought my truck, I looked on the tag inside the door to see where it was manufactured. Once I found a GM built in Canada, that's what I went with. None of that low quality american outsourced products for me.:whistling::whistling::whistling:

:flowers:
Just kiddin...as long as it's made on this side of the ocean, I'm happy!!! But I do check the labels on clothes to see where they are made before I buy them. We all know that clothes not made on this side of the ocean is designed to shrink two sizes after the first wash.
 
I had a Jeep made in Canada. GREAT vehicle. But that was back in 84 or 85.
 
groomerguyNWO said:
I prefer products made in Canada. When I bought my truck, I looked on the tag inside the door to see where it was manufactured. Once I found a GM built in Canada, that's what I went with. None of that low quality american outsourced products for me.:whistling::whistling::whistling:

:flowers:
Just kiddin...as long as it's made on this side of the ocean, I'm happy!!! But I do check the labels on clothes to see where they are made before I buy them. We all know that clothes not made on this side of the ocean is designed to shrink two sizes after the first wash.
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It is funny you should say that grommer. My son bought a GMC Sonoma Viper when they first came out. Well things didn't work out for him so I took over the payments. Well the truck was made in Mexico so that should tell you something about it and probably on a Monday after a full weekend of partying.

Long story short was no clear coat on half of the truck which the local GMC dealer made right. This was followed by me pushing in the cigarette lighter to turn all the lights in the vehicle into the inside of a pin ball machine. This was repaired and happened again 6 months later. I also had a tail light fall out of it as the screws simply backed out of the housing.

This truck was purely cursed though as I had two accidents driving it and none caused by me, got a ticket for speeding and honest to go for 2 mph over the 55 mph speed limit. Hurricane Andrew spared it but going to work with no street lights someone came from our left and took out all 4 vehicles with the right away, my wife was driving. Got it back from the shop after that repair and wife went to fill it up with a free car wash and it took out the bed of the truck. After it was repaired I sold it.
 
I know what you mean by the mexican made products with American labels on them. My father ran logging trucks up here. He bought strictly Kenworth and Peterbilt. They used to be manufactured in the states. Good quality. Then, they started having them made in mexico and shipped up. Let's just say that his experience with them after that was somewhat similar to yours with your sonoma.
 
Another good example of this is the plywood mill I used to work in. We made high end cabinetry plywood. We had really good quality products. It came to a point though where we couldn't compete with the cheap crap that was being imported from China. Seemed everyone on this side of the ocean opted for a cheap price verses a quality product. The stuff coming from overseas would blister and fall apart at the first sign of moisture. What they passed off as their high end stuff would have been downgraded to a shop panel where I worked.
 
groomerguyNWO said:
I know what you mean by the mexican made products with American labels on them. My father ran logging trucks up here. He bought strictly Kenworth and Peterbilt. They used to be manufactured in the states. Good quality. Then, they started having them made in mexico and shipped up. Let's just say that his experience with them after that was somewhat similar to yours with your sonoma.
Click to expand...

I dont know where you came up with that info GG, or how far back you are talking about. :wink:

Kenworth trucks have been being built in Mexico as well as Canada and the US since the 50's , but they still are being built in the states as well.

Kenworth head offices are in Kirkland, Washington, USA with manufacturing plants in Chillicothe, Ohio; Ste-Therese, Quebec; and Seattle and Renton, Washington. They were and still are highly regarded for the military as well as oil field and lumber usage.

Peterbuilt trucks have had plants in Washington, California, Wisconsin and are still manufactured in Denton Texas where they moved in the early 80's as far as I am aware .

Both companys are owned by the Paccar division and as far as I am concerned the quality is as good as it ever was , i cant speak for the quality since the late 90's for either though.

From my understanding unlike a lot of big companys, Kenworth didn't move manufacturing to Mexico for any other reason then the high demand for there use in Mexico, and they were also exported from there and Canada to Australia as well.

My Dad was also in the trucking business as well as myself, and a good family friend owned both the Kenworth and Peterbuilt dealerships in Wichita still today, and I dont beleive he ever had any trucks shipped to the states from Mexico. :smile:
 
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