Having not actually purchased anything yet - it's difficult to say how I feel about this challenge so far.
However, I know we will run into some challenges and so here are a few ground rules and disclosures:
1.) We have lots of foreign made items in our house/life already. Two of our cars are foreign - and I am not allowed to drive the other one. Because Adam thinks I don't know how to drive stick shift. Even though I had a stick shift car long before I met him. And he's reading over my shoulder at this very moment. Also, our electronics are foreign. We're not getting rid of any of it. Just to be clear.
2.) Gas - we are not even sure how to go about knowing whether our fuel comes from America. Exempt. Just sayin.
3.) Some product packaging just says "Packaged for (COMPANY NAME HERE) in Cincinnati" or whatever. I don't know how to find out more. I guess look it up on the Internet. For certain products, like toilet paper or essentials, this is just going to have to be good enough until we figure out how to be smarter at this whole thing.
4.) Not sure whether or not we should stop buying products manufactured by companies whose Headquarters are located in foreign countries. I'm leaning towards Yes. Still figuring it out, though, so for now we're going to pretend this is not a question and just get used to our new way of thinking on a smaller scale at first.
5.) Clothes are going to be impossible. I honestly believed the "Faded Glory" brand from WalMart was made in America. I am not sure why - I think the commercials are misleading. Anyway, it is not.
6.) Even though wine and beer will be easy - I am sad because the only wine I can get at the gas station right up the road is Australian. So now I can no longer tell Adam to stop at the gas station for "chips" and then run in to get wine. Now I actually have to ask him to take me to the liquor store. Minor annoyance.
That's all I can think of at the moment. I think it's enough of a start. We have to go grocery shopping this weekend and need an awful lot of stuff (like laundry detergent, our favorite brand of which I just noticed is not made in America), so the first true indicator of what this is going to be like will happen in the next couple of days. More to follow!
Jill,
ReplyDeleteBozeman-based builder Anders Lewendal just completed the All-American home here in town. I think you'll see this tracks pretty closely with your own stated objectives.
http://theallamericanhome.com/
Mike Lynch
Admirable goal. Will be interesting following your buy American journey. The difficulties you will find are common to all who what to join the “Buy American” band wagon. Most do not want to acknowledge nor admit we lead to the foreign products taking over. A quick easy bargain has always over rode looking at the path we were creating. Cars are a good example, America products were inferior in the past, not necessarily now but our buying habits are not changing with the times. I’m sure a lot of your readers do not have GM, Ford or Chrysler products in their driveway (I’m guilty). Forces me to think back when I was a kid and that’s all I saw anyone own. I’ll follow this blog with interest with the hope it helps me start the change also. Tony
ReplyDelete