Made in the U.S.A

Picture a really hardworking guy, he works long hours, takes pride in his work, treats it with care, and does an excellent all-around job so that he can put food on the table, send his kid to school, and be an overall good human being. As American citizens, we ought to support American workers and ingenuity by buying products labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” Home to some of the most creative minds in the world, and a country filled with entrepreneurial spirit.
Back in 1800’s America, everything was made by hand. Tradesman would spend countless hours perfecting their craft in the hopes to design a fine product that people would buy. Those were the days when American craftsman were respected and understood. Later in 1913, Henry Ford designed the first assembly line. A manufacturing process that was able to produce products much more efficiently; meaning lower costs for the consumer. The assembly line later lead to global scale mass production, and the demise of the American tradesman.
That’s not to say American craftsmanship is dead, at least not yet. Today there are many fine craftsman who take just as much care in their work as their ancestors did. These include artisans such as shoemakers, tanners, and smiths. Some of the most respected American companies, such a Allen Edmonds and Red Wings Shoes, know this and typically use both craftsman and machines. In this case, machines work alongside craftsman to develop not only something that’s affordable, but one of exceptional quality.
Then there’s the world of mass production. No other country exercises this type of manufacturing better than the Republic of China. Many business are going to China to manufacture their products. The cost per worker is significantly lower, and mass quant...

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... salaries. As American citizens, we ought to support American workers and ingenuity by buying products labeled
“Made in the U.S. of A.” versus “Made in China” or overseas. Just keep that in mind the next time you make a purchase. Thank You.

Works Cited

Clifford, Stephanie. "A Resurgence for 'Made in U.S.' Clothes Comes at a Price." International New York Times. 02 Dec. 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.
Folbre, Nancy. "Not Really Made in China (or the United States)." NYTIMES.com. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.
"Bangladesh Profile." BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
Stern, Joanna. "Motorola's Moto X Phone Will Be Made in America." ABC News. ABC News Network, 30 May 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Peruzzi, Marc. "The U.S. Is Losing the Gear Arms Race." Outside Online. Outside Magazine, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.