What would happen if we the people only purchased items made in United States?

Question

OK, I'm not a hateful person, or racist and I understand the need to work to survive, so for any non-Americans who may read this; please don't be offended for I am a person who loves all unconditionally.

As we all know, the US economy is hurting. I'm sure there are many ways to fix this issue, but my question is about those companies who outsource to other countries. If these companies were to bring back the work to Americans, wouldn't that create more jobs thus stimulating the economy, as more jobs create more people with money who will in turn purchase items from stores AND it would generate money for the US in terms of exporting goods. Would that make things worse, or better in the long run? Would that force the outsourcing companies to bring employment back to the U.S. or has this already begun? (don't keep up with current events) I know not everything can be made in the United States, but come on, fake American money (play money) that wasn't made in the U.S.?

Answer 1

People are use to paying certain prices for certain things.  With the cost of US labor, prices would soar.  People wouldn't be able to afford ipods, computers, x-boxes, clothes, shoes.  We cannot compete with Asian labor costs.

The era of American manufacturing has come and gone.  The workers of this country have to move on to other things.  That's why education is so important.

Answer 2

Then we would have no TV's, no lawnmowers, no radios, very few clothes,  very little fruit and vegetables, and not much of anything else.

To bring the jobs back  (never happen) our wages would have to be equal to their wages.  Will you make TV's for $25 a month.

Answer 3

A wonderful idea but sadly not possible anymore. We have outsourced too many manufacturing jobs and no longer have the ability to be wholly self sufficient. It would take a herculean effort to re-tool and bring all those jobs home so we could actually have goods available that are entirely made here from the ground up.

Answer 4

For most of its history, the U.S. has been the top innovator of technology.  From agriculture, to industry, to steam technology, to cars, to today's high-tech, we have always been at the forefront.  Other countries eventually take over our older industries and produce things cheaper.  Always has been this way.  

What's been going on lately is we have become compacent.  It seems we don't worry as much about creating the best - we just get what we need from others for cheap.  We don't invest in research and development (R&D) like we use to.  The Japanese use to make cheaply made toys and electronics, then cheap cars.  Now, they OWN the electronic and auto industry.  Why didn't the US come up with a hybrid car?  And better milage cars? Because we focus on the now - not the later.

We have to refocus on investing in our technology.  Maybe "Green Technology" (windmills, solar panels, biofuels, etc) to solve energy problems could be it.  But, we will never make jeans and TVs here in the US ever again.

Answer 5

There are several problems.

1)  We have legally binding trade agreements with other countries so if we cut back on our imports we still have to give them money but we get no product in return for it.

2)  There are jobs that most "proud" Americans simply refuse to do that people in other countries will do out of necessity or a difference in their views of what "proud" work is.

3)  More manufacturing here means more pollution here.

4)  MANY of the materials used in the manufacture of our products are more widely available in other countries and it's FAR less expensive to process them and use them there than it is to ship them here for use in manufacturing.