Reply #8: and created those economies in other places [View All]

[northzax]

The textile jobs left South Carolina and Maine and went to Vietnam and Cambodia, where they employ Vietnamese and Cambodians. Don't like it? don't buy it.

For instance, with the exception of my socks, every item of clothing I am wearing right now is US made (and I have no idea on the socks, but I cannot guarantee it) my t shirt and boxers are from LA (American Apparel) my khakis from Pennsylvania (Bill's Khakis) shoes are from Maine (Sebago) Of course, every single item could have been cheaper (do I need $97.00 khakis or $30 tshirts? of course not, but I am willing to pay it sometimes.) of course, the $50 I could have saved on my khakis I could have spent somewhere else in my neighborhood, but I didn't, so it's all a toss up. I prefer to buy union made stuff, and I have the financial luxury to walk the talk, most people don't want to spend $100 on khakis, after all.

I challenge you to go an entire year and only buy US made products. it is possible, it's not easy, but in 95% of cases, it is possible. you will spend more money, of course, but if the market exists, and is thriving, people will fill it. Give away everything you bought last year made outside the US and replace it with US-made alternatives. I am not saying everything you buy must be US made, but start with clothing. Use the Intenet, find US made alternatives for every item of clothing you buy. If all Vietnam offers is cheaper prices, pay more for the US option. Seriously, it can be done for almost everything, and if there is a market for it, it will continue to get better. If there are a million pairs of jeans sold every year based solely on the "Made in the USA" label, others will get into making jeans in the US. no matter how tempted you are to buy something at the GAP, or Banana, or J.Crew, or Victorias Secret, or whatever, don't buy it, find a US alternative and buy that. Turn the free market back onto creating US jobs. That is all you have to to, well, you and ten million other people. Don't use price as your object, use location of manufacture. It's very simple. Think you can do it? or would you rather have the government do it for you through tariffs?