Humor: Why the American Economy Fell Off the Cliff

Humor: Why the American Economy Fell Off the Cliff
from Alain's Newsletter

John started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).

He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today.

After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with GAS (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his Computer (made in MALAYSIA), John decided to relax for a while.

He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL), poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA?
AND NOW HE HOPES THAT HE CAN GET HELP FROM A PRESIDENT WHO WAS BORN IN KENYA?

This is a dilemma, for sure. As much as I would like to "buy American", ten years ago I felt that often times imported products were made better or were a better bargain.

Nowadays, since we import so many things from China, even the choice of buying American seems to be disappearing because of a lack of availability of American products.

Until China and other countries go through the process of raising their standard of living, they will always be able to under price American-made products because of their lighter tax and payroll burdens, which help them keep overhead low. I think the market should be free to encourage competition and greater quality goods, etc., but at the same time, allowing a flood of cheap imported goods of all kinds all at once into our economy will be good for consumers, but bad for manufacturers, which eventually has to be bad for consumers, too. Perhaps if the floodgates were not so wide open for cheap imported goods so suddenly, then it would give American manufacturers a better chance to make the necessary changes to compete and survive? No. That would mean government interference in the free market economy, and that kind of protectionism might be habit forming, as well as counterproductive.

Maybe it would be better for us to stick to innovation and hard work to keep making good, desirable products at a price that makes them a good value to compete and stay in business.

The government could play a helpful role in raising public awareness about the value of buying American-made products and offering incentives to new businesses and rewards to established businesses for excelling in manufacturing. I for one would like to see a sticker on anything I buy saying what percent of the thing was made in America. That is something our government could help require or encourage.