Buying American

There is an article in the New York Times about how it is becoming trendy among lefties to buy American made products - for environmental reasons such as reducing energy spent on distrubution - as well as a way to support the economy.

From Fender Guitars to New Balance running shoes to Trek bicycles - oftentimes it's the high end products that are made in America - while lower end versions are made in Mexico, China, or elsewhere.

Sites including www.stillmadeinusa.com help people find out where they can find such products. I like to go to art fairs - besides seeing what all people are making these days - they are great places to buy things directly from the people who make them. They are also great places to buy gifts - as are places like the By Hand Gallery in Bloomington. Most interesting places have something similar.

But finding basic clothes and such that are "made in America" is not always so easy. There is always the thrift store option. Buy uesd instead of new, anyway.

One thing that the writer of the article seems to have missed is that people can buy "foreign cars" that are made in America. A person can buy a Toyota or Mercedes designed vehicle and have the desired quality and be built 50 miles away - instead of buying an inferior Chevy that will not last long, have many more breakdowns, be less efficient and that was also built in the USA - but 300 miles away.