Buy American isn't as easy as you might think...
I grew up in a time where Made in the USA wasn't merely a slogan, it was something that businesses and the American workers took seriously and were very proud of. Patriotism was more than thanking a veteran, it was a loyalty to this country and our way of life.
Manufacturing is critically important to the American economy. For generations, the strength of our country rested on the power of our factory floors. Manufacturing is woven into the structure of our economy, its importance goes far beyond what happens behind the factory gates. The strength or weakness of American manufacturing carries implications for the entire economy, our national security, and the well-being of all Americans.
NAFTA was the knife that stabbed every red blooded American in the back then slit his throat. Our elected politicians crafted the necessary documents then passed them into law which allowed companies to abandon the American worker taking advantage of lower labor and virtually no environmental ramifications....OH, and many payed little or no taxes for long periods of time...
NAFTA was created in 1994 under the guise of “free trade,” an agreement whose purpose was to remove trade barriers between Mexico, Canada and the United States. The result was nothing short of a disaster for both the United States and Mexico.
NAFTA opened up Mexico’s borders to U.S. businesses. What used to be an $18 per hour manufacturing job in America became a $3 per hour job in Mexico. No manufacturer wishing to remain competitive in America could possibly pay $18-20 per hour here when the same product can be produced right across the border in Mexico for just $3 per hour and then shipped back to the U.S. free of charge.
America’s current problem with immigration is a direct byproduct of NAFTA. The amount of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally has more than tripled since 1993, rising from less than four million to over 12 million. Furthermore, since the implementation of NAFTA 300,000 farms have gone out of business and average wages have dropped 13 percent.
Before NAFTA was signed the United States actually traded at a surplus with Mexico. By 2007, a year before the financial collapse, that balance had more than reversed, it had completely imploded. A mere 14 years after signing NAFTA, a small surplus turned into a $91 billion deficit. Factor in Canada and our deficit sat at $191 billion.
When we discuss buying American made products the first thing that comes to my mind is cars and trucks, so lets take a look at where they're actually made...
Toyota manufacturing plants in the United States have produced the Toyota Avalon, the
Toyota Camry, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Toyota Corolla, the Toyota Sequoia, the Toyota Sienna, the Toyota Solara, the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Tundra.
Hyundai has also opened locations in the United States and around the world. Its manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Alabama produces the Hyundai Genesis, Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe.
Nissan North America's Smyrna and Canton facilities are tasked with the bulk of production of Nissan's passenger sedans and SUV models. These models include everything from the Altima and Maxima sedans, to the remainder of Nissan's Truck and SUV lines which include the Titan, Frontier, Armada and Xterra. In addition to these, the Nissan Quest mini-van is also manufactured in the Canton Mississippi plant.
Ford’s Fusion, Fiesta, and
Lincoln MKZ models are built in Mexico, while the Edge, Flex, Lincoln MKX, and Lincoln MKT are built in Canada.
GM vehicles assembled in Canada include
Chevrolet's Camaro, Equinox and Impala and the GMC Terrain, while vehicles built in Mexico include
Cadillac's SRX and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet's Aveo, HHR, Silverado, and GMC's Sierra.
And alas, even the venerable Corvette is full of parts produced in China and who know where else....:dunno:
