Post Scripts: Economy – Made in America?

John Smith started the day early, having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN). While his coffee pot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LINKI), 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 spent 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 SAUDIA ARABIA) and continued his search for a good paying (AMERICAN) job.

At the end of another discouraging and fruitless day he checked his computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA). John decided to relax for awhile. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL), poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his television (MADE IN INDONESIA) and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in AMERICA.

Yes, we know why so many of the things we use every day are made in another country. Take automobiles for example. It is well known American cars rarely match the performance of many foreign cars. The price is so much higher because of the wages they have to pay the UAW workers to get the job done.

I remember at one time Wal-Mart advertised that everything they sold was made in the United States and we know now that isn’t true today. They take pride in selling merchandise at a lower price than most other stores but they can’t do it by selling only products made in the United States because of the wages that are paid to the employees who manufacture them.

Many of the companies who are today laying off employees, are losing contracts for their products because of the price they must have to make a profit.

I read in the Austin newspaper last week that major manufacturers could cut 296,000 jobs in Texas this year and I imagine that is about to happen in many other states, too.

As a young boy I took on a paper route in Kansas City during the Great Depression to help my parents make ends meet. I will never forget how depressing "The Depression" was. My parents lost our new home when my dad’s paycheck fell far short of the monthly payments required to keep it. In addition, my dad was finally "laid off" and we were forced to accept welfare. So even though it has been many years ago, I well remember what it means to be out of a job like so many people are now. I will never, never forget the affects "The Great Depression" placed on the Snyder family, my father never forgiving himself for "going on welfare" and being unable to keep up the payments to retain ownership of our new house.

Ouch!