Pundits are predicting such things as increased pubic works spending, highway and intrastructure projects, and a variety of initiatives falling under the umbrella term “economic stimulus.”
Republicans, ranging from those already in positions of power to those seeking election, have begun to weigh in with their own ideas, be they plans of their own or just criticism of Obama.
Well, here’s my Jobs Program:
Buy American.
It sounds jingoistic, and it sounds simplistic, but it’s what we need. Years ago, my father liked the line, “All we have to divide among us is the sum of what we produce.” It’s exactly right. As our manufacturing sector has decayed, so has our economy along with it. We cannot sustain an economy on banking, burgers, and back-office support. We have to make things.
Another way to express my Jobs Program might be to paraphrase the current New Jersey governor who, when telling people to evacuate the coastline ahead of approaching Hurricane Irene, said, “Get the hell off of the beach!”
My Jobs Program could be expressed as “Get the hell out of the Wal-Mart!” Shopping solely by price is killing our economy. People like to complain about the evil corporations moving production to Mexico and overseas, but is it us, the consumers, who caused this by demanding low price ahead of all other factors. Looking only at the price tag without considering whether it was made by your neighbor or by a Chinese prisoner has been a road to economic ruin.
You can try to blame the politicians. You can try to blame the corporations. You can try to blame the unions. But the blame belongs on us, the consumers. The more we as consumer demand US-made products, the more US jobs there will be.
These days you have to look past the brand name. Lots of American brand names are today attached to products made elsewhere. Conversely, numerous foreign brands have established manufacturing facilities in the United States. But too few people consider whether an item they are buying is made over here or over there.
And don’t blindly play the “quality” card. People who reject American-made cars are living in 1978. There are plenty of high-quality US-made products made today -- including automobiles -- and there are still plenty of shoddy foreign-made goods. Yes, use quality as a determining factor in your buying choices, but use up-to-date, realistic assessments and think about whose job you are supporting.
Buy American. It’s the best Jobs Program.