Yesterday, I responded in a thread about our favorite scissors. I mentioned that I was looking for some made in the US, as I had discovered mine were from Pakistan.
I’ve been thinking about that, and I have something more to say…
I’m a metalsmith by trade, and basically do most anything with metal, fab work, machining,welding, whatever. However, I ply my trade in a Hardwood Plywood plant. America used to be the biggest builder and product manufacturer in the world, building everything under the sun, and most of our homes and lives were filled with our products. Not so any longer. For various and sundry good reasons, our manufacturers began “outsourcing” ( a new word, and concept, in my lifetime) and the trend is still growing. When NAFTA came about, I had a successful business in the ornamental iron industry, with a good customer base in the interior decoration business. In less than a year, I had gone back to work as a machinist, and had closed the doors of my shop with three employees, due to the huge price undercuts from mostly Mexican manufacturers of the same or similar products. I simply could not compete. NAFTA made it easy for these companies and Americans understandably were drawn by the lower prices. When this happened to my small business, it also happened to countless others like mine, many with far more than three employees. I’ve been fine, overall, and am still doing fine bringing in a living wage. I’m sure that’s not entirely true for many others affected by the same factors. Now, as you all know our economy is in a downturn, with various causes. In the plywood manufacturing industry, we are particularly hard hit. In the low to mid grade panel market, which covers 90% of the home building needs, the Chinese have become huge players. I’m no “tree hugger”, nor “radical environmentalist”, but I am certainly on the side of being environmentally responsible, and managing sustainable resources. I am a simple, intelligent, reasonable, and conservative fellow. The Chinese operate their HUGE manufacturing industry with no regard for the enviromental impacts or overharvest, hazardous waste and byproducts, living wages, health and welfare, etc. This gives them a very large and unfair advantage in our new “world economy” I say new, because it has become so in my lifetime.
I started to mention the manufactured wood panel market.
In that market, on the low to mid grade level, which represents the lion’s share of the market, the Chinese take on all comers, and they plain whoop our butts. In the Pacific Northwest, where I hail from, this industry used to carry the economy, and hold it high.
In the past twenty years dozens upon dozens of manufacturers in this industry, in this area, have gone away, never to return. These are thousands and thousands of jobs gone forever. We’ve all heard news about lead in paint on toys and other things we buy from overseas suppliers, contaminated medicines and foods, on and on. These are generally products from foreign suppliers also operating like China, with no environmental constraints, poor working conditions and wages, and all that I’ve mentioned. Yes their prices on end products are lower, much lower than many or even most domestic products like them. Often, the quality lacks also, but that is becoming less and less true. I have many imported items which are very high quality. My Dr. Slicks, for one.
Things are like they are now, and they are much different than I would have thought if asked thirty or even twenty years ago. Thing is, we are losing ground pretty fast here in the US, in many ways, I think. Try to purchase the things you do, buying only American made, and you will find it a daunting, if not impossible task.
I guess my point is this… We are losing our manufacturers, and the jobs and livelihoods they provide at a pretty fast rate. We need to be concious of this, and protedt and support the ones we can. I believe this means making an effort to “Buy American” whenever we can, and to go the extra mile or even do without in some cases. The world economy, and the world wide manufacturing is here to stay, and we want much of what it brings and includes. The internet, for example. And, much of it is certainly good and desirable. However, I feel we need to balance things, and keep the manufacturere we can and support them. So, as soon as I can, I’ll buy a nice pair of high quality made in US tying scissors, even if they cost lots more than my trusty Slicks. And, I will continue to make efforts to buy American. I know I can’t always, maybe less than 50% of the time, but I will be concious of it, and do what I can. I guess I’m asking y’alll to think about it, and do what you can too…ModocDan
Very well said. I try to buy US made products anytime that I can. I will not buy a rod or reel that is made overseas. When I purchase a vehicle, I make sure the money goes to a US campany.
God Bless the U.S.A.
TS
My last car was a Dodge(made in Mexico), my latest car is a Toyota(made in USA) go figure!
I used to love Danner boots never even thought about them not being made in the US.
Last pair I bought I failed to look at the country of orgin guess what?
China,same as the last Woolrich Alaskan shirt I bought,notice in both instances I say last.
I work and play outside in all weather so good gear is a requirement for me.
I will spend a few more bucks and buy American made when ever I can and if I can’t then I at least try to buy from an allied nation.
Modocdan;
What you say, (and said VERY well, too!), is unfortunately true.
But, “we”, (as Americans), really have only ourselves to blame. We’ve always been forced fed the idea that “America is the land of plenty” and so, every generation has grown up with this idea, firmly planted in their minds…“If you live in America, you’re ENTITLED… it’s your RIGHT… to own as much “bling” as you can own”.
We’re the only nation, on the globe, where "TWO cars, TWO televisions, at least ONE computer, (and, according to HP’s survey, it’s closer to 75%, that own TWO computers, also), is considered, “a MIDDLE income American household”!?
So, WITH this ideology for American living we’re “supposed to be entitled to”, far outstripping the American industrial market to supply at reasonable prices, it’s only common business sense for companies to outsource their products to stay competitive. Sad… but so very true.
Like Host Ray said… (except mine is a Honda), my Honda is made in Texas!?! True, the majority of the “end profits results”, go home to Honda’s headquarters in Japan, but at least, a lot of Texas families are able to earn a decent living, performing what part they play in the car’s production, locally.
As simple as the fact, that I’m a 'Nam Marine Corps vet, I try and “buy American” as often as I can. I also, try and “buy American” because I’m an American, period.
But, it’s becoming harder and harder to do. Sad.
One point, that either “tickles me” or “confuses me” though about all of this “Non-American purchasing”, is WHY IS IT, it seems to be directed solely at the Asian Market? We will complain about “buying offshore goods”, when the item we’re buying is “from an ASIAN MARKET”, but don’t we, honestly, “covet an item”, if it’s, instead “made by The House Of Hardy, in England”? If it’s “Swedish steel”, we can’t WAIT to get our hands on one!?!
And, if we can somehow AFFORD to own, either an Italian made, or French made, true silk fly line… we’ll sell our first born, to obtain it!!
No, of course, this doesn’t fit all of us, naturally. But I’ve seen it happen, often enough to question our logic and thinking, about “what’s offshore and what’s foreign”.
At least, as far as our Dr. Slick’s are concerned, they ARE forged in Pakistan, but they’re finished, polished, sharpened and packaged, here in the US!?
Gonfishin… Last, Saturday, Linda and I went into “The Pride of Oregon”… a “Pendleton Woolen Mills” store, here, in town. Pendleton Mills, has for more years that I can even remember, touted their “American Heritage”, their “made in Oregon”, status. Their “devotion and pride, being closely associated with the Pacific Northwest’s Native American tribes”, in duplicating their patterns and cultural designs, by incorporating them, into their product designs.
I’d guess, close to 75% of the items that my bride and I, picked up to look at and admire, we’re labeled, “Made in China”, “Made In India”, “Made in Vietnam”.
I would like to add that American Companies have set up shop in China and other far east countries. American Companies have trained foreign workers to manufacture products designed in America. That way the American Companies can turn a good profit.
Doug
Some years ago, I was looking for an American made leather bomber jacket…virtually impossible to find…UNTIL I ran across Sgt Hack’s US Wings, which is about 30 miles north of me. Hack is, like me, a Vietnam vet & a real American patriot. Stuff is all American made. While not FF related, check his site out… www.uswings.com/
Mike
One more reason to buy Mag Eyes. They are made in the U.S.A.
The following web site will help you find a U.S. manufacturer of the goods you are looking to buy.
Some of them are not cheap but neither is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed us by our Constitution. Freedom is not Free!
nighthawk …
It?s kind of funny that the site that you sent us to shows Pendleton as American made, and as flybinder stated above, that?s just not true.
Guess they all feel the pressure and are turning over.
DickM.
Thank you fellas, for “listening” to my soapbox spiel…
Like Flybinder said " we really have only ourselves to blame" That’s oh, so true, and I willingly accept my share of the blame.
As for the seeming majority of Asian manufacturers, well, there’s a master plan for a one world government whether we like it or not, and it probably allows for Asia to be the main manufacturing center for it, not the US. What role the US has is not truly clear to me yet, but it’s not what I probably think anyway, no doubt…
I really, hugely respect what our vetrans have done and given for our great country, and I can only imagine what it must be like to purchase goods and later find they were manufactured by a former enemy they fought in a war against…:shock:… I just can’t even fathom…That’s just proof of more respect and thanks we owe these vets…You guys all have my undying thanks and admiration…
It’s all based on economic factors, way beyond the small picture I can see…
I also understand what Doug says about US companies doing what they do to turn a better profit…It goes back to FlyBinder’s words " we really only have ourselves to blame"
Thanks again for allay’all’s responses, & the PM’s I recieved…Truly…ModocDan
I sent an email to the site admin advising them of the situation.
It is weird isn’t it. It makes it hard to buy a vehicle when either it keeps an American worker a pay check or giving an American Company the money.
flybinder,
What you say is very well true. If we are looking for a Richard Wheatley fly box or a Hardy reel, we have no problem purchasing them.
I would say that for myself, I hate to buy Asian and Mexico made products the most.
TS
Take a closer look at some of those Hardy’s; the new Lightweights & the Zanes are being manufactured in Korea…
…how does that effect the buying decision?
But WAIT; I’m not here to stir the pot but to report something I just discovered by accident!
(Apologies if you already know…)
When I was perusing the Cabela’s website in the footwear section I noticed they had a “Made in the USA” link which brought me to a page of all of the USA made footwear they sell and guess what…
…there are USA made Danners and other shoes out there! But it gets better; if you put Made in the USA in the search box on the Cabela’s website…
…you guessed it; all of USA made stuff they offer comes up! 
Interestingly enough I tried the same search on the L.L. Bean site and came up empty which either means their search function doesn’t work the same way as Cabela’s or…
…
In any case, I think that if this issue is really important to you when you are making a purchase decision; it would be a good thing to contact those retailers and let them know that a “Made in the USA” link or search function is something you would like to see on their website.
Since they sell goods from everywhere; making it easier for the consumer to decide is the least they can do.
BTW - I gave Cabela’s kudos via e-mail!
[QUOTE=Bamboozle;205623]Take a closer look at some of those Hardy’s; the new Lightweights & the Zanes are being manufactured in Korea…
…how does that effect the buying decision?
You are right. I failed to remember that about Hardy. But I will never own one anyway.
How much of that “Made in the USA” car is parts from some other country, and how much of the made elsewhere car is parts made in the US? I would be interested to know if ANY complex mechanism we buy these days (washing machine, TV, car, bicycle, toaster) is made entirely in the US from entirely US parts made from entirely US produced metals, chemicals, and so on. Any takers?
Face it, it is a GLOBAL economy now. The days of everything being made in your little village, and not having to deal with inferior products made by that so-and-so blacksmith in the next village, are long gone, people.
PS Uni-thread is made in Canada. My xx fine wire is made in France, the ultra wire in the US…
I just read where Ford is building three new diesel plants in Africa.
I’ve been a metalsmith for nearly 40 years. in the last twenty it has gotten harder and harder to buy domestic steel. First it was Korea, then Mexico, now China, who seem to be the major producers of structural steel. Pipe fittings…Korea, Mexico. Valves…Mexico. I could go on and on. I’m building the end product here, but my raw materials come from all over the world. Like I said, it’s a global thing, and I think we’ll be the last to know where it’s gonna end up…Dan
It really irked my boyfriend to see that his beloved Filson company had started importing products. First it was just their newer casual wear line, then it moved on to some of their classic items. Of course the prices didn’t drop, so with their labor savings, that meant big profit turnaround for Filson.
He’s always said he wants his money to go to American companies that produce in America. For me, it’s more about jobs. I don’t mind giving my money to a foreign company (their are plenty of Chinese citizens giving their RMB’s to American companies) - if the products are made here. I drive a Toyota Tacoma, made in Fremont, CA.
Here’s some more links to Made in USA stuff.
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
http://www.devvy.com/made_inthe_usa.html
Clothing (my guy loves their jeans and t-shirts)
http://www.allamericanclothing.com/
Not F Fishing— International trucks are built all over the world and the latest is that IH will now build GM trucks. BILL