What does "Made in the USA" mean to you? Hopefully, it inspires images of quality and reliability. And well it should.My father has an electric drill that he got in the early 1960s. It still works. The label proudly shows "Made in USA." In my life, I have gone through at least a half dozen foreign-made drills, the best lasting two years before it started to smoke and catch fire. Should I have been surprised? I guess not, but I was.
As a business major, I know that companies spend millions of dollars in advertising to promote a specific image of their overseas-manufactured products. The product is sometimes sold at exorbitantly high prices. When the product breaks or ceases to function, we realize it doesn't live up to our expectations.
Do we learn from our mistake? Obviously not, because we go out immediately and purchase another one just like it.
As I look at this issue, I ask myself how it could live up to our expectations of quality when it usually is made with inferior components and assembled by untrained, uneducated and often abused workers.
The only quality control many of these companies appear to have is that which protects and maximizes their profits.
I have visited several of these factories in Asian countries and witnessed the working conditions, safety issues, worker health problems and the substandard quality of the manufacturing processes. If these companies tried to run their businesses in America under those conditions, the government would shut them down.
Yet our government allows these companies to establish manufacturing subsidiaries in foreign countries that do not have environmental or safety and compliance laws. As a result, American jobs are lost for the sake of profit.
Why would an American manufacturer relocate to Mexico or Asia?
Well, for the reasons listed above and because, on average, companies can expect to save as much as 75 percent on labor costs. Yet they precariously slap a label that indicates "Product of America" or another misleading title, and it is shipped to this country for us to purchase at our favorite stores.
As my dismay with these inferior products continued to grow, I searched for anything made in America to assess whether our products are better than the imports. I found a few items and even purchased one.
I am proud to admit that I am impressed. The quality is obvious, and I am happy with my purchase. To date, this product has outlived several similar imports I had. And most important, the cost was not much different than the import.
Made-in-USA products are different. Not just because they are usually produced with better quality materials and are assembled by smart, creative workers, but because "Made in USA" means much more than just having an American flag displayed on the label.
It means an investment by hard-working Americans who believe in America and the vision of our forefathers.
It means an investment in our children, education and future. Just look at the misery that "Made in China" has brought us lately, and you can appreciate "Made in USA" a lot more.
My father once told me: "You get what you paid for." And again, he was right.
I prefer to pay a little more for a product and have it last a long time than pay for cheap products that end up breaking or poisoning my children with lead or other toxins.
As you venture out and shop, think "Made in America." Whether you're in the market for clothing, tools, toys or other products, take into consideration what you are getting for your money. When possible, buy American.
When you buy an American product, you know you're getting the best possible quality at a reasonable price. In addition, you also will be helping your community, both economically and ecologically. By purchasing products made here, you are investing in American businesses that are not afraid to make their products under the American standard - a standard of quality.
The American work ethic is something to be admired. Our workforce, regardless of position, works hard to produce the best product and serve customers to the best of their ability. It is the fuel that allows the American worker to attain results unmatched by anyone.
More notably, by buying "Made in USA" products you will have found another piece of the American Dream and, hopefully, some peace of mind.
The writer is a youth counselor and Zephyrhills city councilman.
By LUIS LOPEZ
TampaBay Online.com
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