Case in point - a few weeks ago, in his radio broadcast and on his blog, Robert Reich, economist, former Secretary of Labor, and public policy professor at UC-Berkeley, pointed out that many "American" companies are creating large numbers of jobs overseas, where they are manufacturing their products in countries that have a demand for their products. (Of course, most are not creating new jobs in the US when there is a demand at home for their products, but instead, are filling US orders with products manufactured overseas as well.) In addition, some of these companies are exploiting foreign workers, particularly children, and violating basic human rights.
Reich notes that almost half the sales of the S&P 500 are now overseas, and, according to the Commerce Department, in the past ten years, American multinational corporations have eliminated almost 3 million jobs in the US, while adding more than 2 million jobs abroad. Robert Scott, a senior international economist at Washington think tank, The Economic Policy Institute, says "There's a huge difference between what is good for American companies versus what is good for the American economy." Reich points out that these companies are still considered "American" companies, and still get US tax breaks. At the same time, the US Supreme Court has ruled that these big multinational corporations also have a "First Amendment right" to spend unlimited amounts of money on US elections, thereby having a huge influence on our elections, and on our elected representatives.
As American consumers, we can make a difference by buying and promoting products and goods that are made and grown in the USA, and boycotting goods and products not made in the USA, whenever possible. We can positively impact the US economy by swapping just one non-"Made in USA" product for a "Made in USA" product every time we go shopping. For example, I have started filling my shopping cart at the grocery store with as many "Made in USA" products as possible. When I buy tomatoes, I look for a USA label; when I buy cheese, I look for a "Product of USA" label; when I buy paper plates, I look for a "Made in USA" label. I have switched brands, in many cases, and feel good because my new brands are "Made in USA." I am doing what I can to help the US economy, the US worker, and US families. In fairness, not all of the mainstream media is ignoring this issue. CNN has compiled a list of companies that are "exporting America." (See my blog "sources" below.) I just wish that the media would pay more attention to issues like this, and let the doomsday prophets carry their cardboard signs.
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