[quote=Rt.66]3)If you chose foreign you are saying “I’m ok with unfair trade practices and companies that steal American jobs and wealth”
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I hate to tell you this Rt.66, but that’s you. The gas in your car is of Middle East origin. The computer system you use to have this intellectually-fun coversation with us online is probably made in China by Taiwanese companies. The cloth you wear is probably made in South America by European companies. The TV you watch is most likely made in Mexico by a Japanese company. You also should never vacation outside the US as that would only let foreginers take your hard-earned USD.
If it’s not OK for Americans to buy foreign, then to be perfectly fair American companies should also not profit from overseas markets. Ford should sell Volvo back to a Swedish company. GM should make a complete withdrawal from China. Boeing should sell planes only to American airlines. Hawaii should be a vacation destination only to Americans and Hollywood should not release movies outside the US. Now how do these actions help the US economy?
Your support for made in USA products is admirable and your intention is genuine. But your statements and proposed methods, if ever implemented, will throw us back to the 1700s, and even in the 1700s we relied on the export of cotton, timber, fur and other products for our eventual nation to thrive.
Can the US survive on its own without trading with anybody? Absolutely! We are one of the only few countries in the world that have all the necessary resources and the knowhow to be a stand-alone superpower. But do we want to be another North Korea?
Trade imbalance is a serious issue that our government should take actions to improve. But the ideal economy is a balanced trade, not no trade at all. We should encourage American shoppers to buy more domestically-produced or domestically-assembled products. But to say that if you choose foreign then you suck and don’t deserve to be an American is too harsh. You will only get negative effects.
