Blogs > It's Time To Take A Stand

Being a business theatre producer has allowed Brian the opportunity to meet and work with some very fascinating people from a variety of backgrounds which, in turn, has helped shape his knowledge and his opinions. His blog will not always be political, it will be about a lifetime of subjects, and nothing is off limits. “Few people have original thoughts, we are shaped by the people we know and meet” he says.



Sunday, December 6, 2009

How to buy American this Christmas!

While we all feel good this time of year, many people are too busy to truly reflect on the reason for the season. The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25th, but most of the month of December is taken up with trying to figure which gifts to buy for whom, when and how. That is if you are some of the fortunate Michiganians to be employed.

Statistics vary but unemployment in Michigan ranges from 15% to 20%. There is a way every citizen can help our economy. And that is to buy American, a task that is not always easy.


In his book, "How Americans can buy American" author Roger Simmermaker separates and lists companies that are American owned from companies that are foreign owned. He breaks it down by brand name, by country of origin, and by product. For those of you who don't have the time to read the book, Mr. Simmermaker has a website that you can sign up to receive weekly information about American products and companies.

I urge you to check out his website at: www.howtobuyamerican.com

Sign up for his weekly email. It is a great service that he is providing, doing all of the leg work and leaving the decision making to you, where it should be.

In a recent weekly email, Mr. Simmermaker writes, "One of the best and newest online sites I’ve discovered recently where everything is made in USA is simply named the ‘Made in USA Products Store’ and you can check them out at www.MadeInUSAProductsStore.com."

For those of you who want to buy Michigan products, you can research some products at: www.buymichiganproducts.com

This year in particular will be difficult for many Michigan families and a little wise shopping could go a long way. It is not the remedy for all that ails Michigan, but we have to start somewhere. We need to limit our foreign buying and attempt to buy American. Merry Christmas to all.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

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December 7, 2009 at 3:14 AM 
Blogger Brian J Perks said...

So how does that apply to buying American?

December 7, 2009 at 7:10 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ya know it would be just dandy to do that, but its not just the products. I buy American, but often the quality's not so good and then the service sucks. Keeping job at home is fine, if the rest of the customer service etc is there! For too long we've been given sub standard quality an poor service. Imports came along and gave us what we wanted for our money. I'm not talking Walmart here, but other things.

December 7, 2009 at 3:44 PM 
Blogger Brian J Perks said...

I understand that there is a perception that American quality is substandard and in some cases it is. And I know that perception often becomes reality.

I used to be able to spot an American made car vs. an import driving down the road just looking at how poorly the bodyside molding was aligned door to door but not anymore.

Personally I can't stand talking to some customer service rep who can't even pronounce my name (And I have an easy name to pronounce) and speak English so poorly that I have trouble understanding them. I think it is disgusting that American companies are moving their customer service phone centers to India or Pakistan. No offense to India or Pakistan but the first question I ask a phone rep is where are you? If they answer anywhere but a U.S. city, I say thank you and hang up and make a note to myself to never buy from that company again.

As far as import products being better, I disagree. They may be cheaper, which results in our society being a throw away society, but they are not always better.

December 7, 2009 at 6:51 PM 
Blogger Paul said...

Simply stated, "Buy American", is a buzzword with little to no meaning and has even less impact on overall job levels and our relative economic well-being.

I'm curious, "What do people think happens to the dollars spent to purchase a Toyota, Honda or other foreign product"?

December 8, 2009 at 8:57 AM 
Blogger Brian J Perks said...

Buy American is not just a buzzword, it is a necessity but we have to research and determine that the money paid to these companies stays in the U.S.

Did you know that Seven-Eleven is foreign owned by a Japanese company?

In his book, "How Americans can buy American", Roger Simmermaker breaks down foreign owned companies from American owned and he gives a definition of each to make it easier to understand and buy American.

Most people do NOT understand that all profits and taxes from the purchase of a Toyota or Honda go to Japan, not the U.S.

I know what people are going to say, "But Toyota and Honda employ many Americans." I get it and the individual states get the sales tax but that is it.

I never said Buying American would be easy but it will help our economy.

December 8, 2009 at 11:29 AM 
Blogger Paul said...

Well, you did get about one thing right. 7-11 is owned by the Japanese. Let's do a little fact-checking on your comments. Consider an American buying a Japanese car. The car dealer and the salesman are Americans. So are the mechanics who will service the car. The dock workers who unloaded the car are Americans, unless it was built here, then it was also done by Americans. So lots of American jobs depend on that car.

I will give you 1/2 credit for this statement, "Most people do NOT understand that all profits and taxes from the purchase of a Toyota or Honda go to Japan, not the U.S." Yes, the citizens will earn a profit on the car, unfortunately it's apparent you don't know what happens to those dollars after the purchase.

Since the Japanese cannot spend dollars in Tokyo, holders of dollars face three alternatives. They can buy American products or services, invest in America or exchange their dollars for yen. The first alternative creates export opportunities for Americans. exports to Japan reached $66.8 billion in 2008, up from $62.7 billion in 2007. The second alternative brings badly need capital to the American economy, creating jobs and a higher standard of living. The third alternative simply presents someone else with the same choices.

In other words, dollars sent abroad through the purchase of imports will, one way or another benefit Americans. Obviously, the Americans who benefit from Japanese auto sales, or any product, are not the same people who would have benefited from the sale of a domestic automobile. The benefits of the import, although no less real, are less visible than those of the domestic product. That is why "Buy American" seems to make sense at first. But when we look at the unseen effects of buying imports, the fallacy is exposed.

Those who would lay this guilt trip on us are not looking out for the general welfare; they are looking out for themselves. "Buy American" is just not a helpful guide for consumers. In their daily lives, people don't care about such things. They care about quality and price. There's no reason to feel guilty about that.

Here's some more good information from Walter williams.

http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4808

December 9, 2009 at 8:49 AM 
Blogger Brian J Perks said...

Thanks, Paul. I do realize that many Americans make their living selling and servicing foreign cars and trucks and I understand that some dollars spent for foreign vehicles benefit many employees of those companies. I also know that they, in turn, spend money buying other products and services from other American companies but my point was that the majority of the profit goes to the homeland of the company to support their country.

I am not an economist, just a person with an opinion. Buying American is a way in which we can help oursleves. The intricacies of the economy are way beyond my accumulated knowledge but I appreciate your wanting to give me a lesson.

As for Walter Williams' article, anyone can state numbers to support their position, that is marketing 101. I do realize that a trade deficit balance with the U.S. is an impossibility unless our economy goes totally in the tank. I appreciate your sending me the article reference.

Keep the comments coming, I enjoy them.

December 9, 2009 at 10:14 AM 
Blogger Paul said...

"...American companies but my point was that the majority of the profit goes to the homeland of the company to support their country."

As I've already pointed out, this statement is categorically wrong! The profits don't stay in Japan, they have to come back here. The balance of accounts ensures that all dollars eventually have to flow back to America.

"As for Walter Williams' article, anyone can state numbers to support their position, that is marketing 101." It's also Debating 101, that if you don't have the facts to refute someone's statements, then you don't get to say they are "simply his opinion". In other words, prove him wrong.

December 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM 
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January 11, 2010 at 3:57 AM 

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