Why to Buy American

In the American political landscape, there are many hot-button issues that immediately raises defenses and more easily cause debates between liberals and conservatives. Among these include gay marriage, abortion, immigration policy, and how to best stimulate a recessive economy.

Another topic that raises discussion is the concept of buying American; that is, primarily or even exclusively purchasing products that were manufactured in America, rather than foreign plants. There are two primary situations at work: Completely foreign-based operations, and American operations that use outsourcing to have cheaper labor in other countries. Many citizens wonder: Why buy American?

Quality Control

Although thousands of U.S. corporations utilize production facilities in China, India, and other countries in order to take advantage of a lower cost of labor, this comes with its own set of consequences. For instance, it can be more difficult for executive personnel to keep solid records of performance, including whether standards of consistency and safety are being met. This can occasionally create a disastrous situation, such as lead-tainted toys, toxic pet food, or various food-borne disease that necessitate recalls. While buying American does not completely bypass this concern, it is certainly true that American companies can keep better track of their quality control when their capital is kept in-country, and companies completely outside the States will have a more difficulty time sufficiently and transparently proving their production qualities.

Domestic Jobs

One polarizing concept is that every time a company takes advantage of cheap labor overseas, they are giving jobs away that Americans could have had. Considering the significance of joblessness as an indicator of economic health, many people believe that the practice of outsourcing is unethical, since those positions could instead belong to a worker in America that would be stimulating our own economy. In addition, even in purchasing products from completely foreign organizations and not merely outsourced items, it can still be argued that it would be more valuable to pay slightly more for domestic in order to support American jobs.

Financial Integrity

Though it is primarily a concern of conservatives that many liberals believe is overstated, some believe that the more money that exits America and into other countries, the more likely it is that it will be used for unethical practices such as terrorism and arms purchases. While proper organizational oversight largely eliminates this potential, it is still enough of a worry to bother many and spur calls for a closer look at outsourcing practices. But then, with those who are directly importing into America and not as an outsource operation, some wonder: Where is their oversight?

While worldwide finance is valued and trade should certainly continue between countries, buying American certainly becomes a provocative idea, especially in less-than-ideal economic times.