8/24/09
Dear fellow bowhunters,
With all the talk about "going green" and "carbon footprint" it got me to thinking, "How much do I spend on non-American made items, and is there a simple way for me to balance my own personal "trade deficit" with China and non-American manufactures, packagers, assemblers? So I started looking at my own "not made in America purchasing footprint" or Non-American Purchasing Footprint (NAPF)
I was not impressed...so now before I purchase anything that is a "want", I am asking or researching if its actually, "made in America by American workers". I did not realize how much of our hunting equipment is imported from China. I am not trying to start a "who's better" debate. What I am trying to do is see if any of the rest of you on here realize how much hunting gear is imported from China. Its almost hypocritical how all of these Television Personalities get on TV and profess how they are "proud to be an American" but they promote and profess products that are definitely not made in America. Products that could be made in America or are made in America by another manufacturer a small manufacture. This is not patriotism it is hypocrisy at its finest and every citizen of the United States including myself takes part in promoting this hypocrisy every day in one shape or another. I looked at my Hunter's Specialty packs and bags, All of them Made in China. I know that they are an Iowa based company, but facts are I wont quit using them but when the time comes to replace them...I will be looking for something from another company. I was proud that: My bows are all manufactured in U.S. My Arrows Manufactured in U.S. My Broadheads Manufactured in the U.S. My Lighted Knocks Manufactured in the U.S. All my Vehicles Bicycle Camo Clothing is Manufactured in U.S. but Cloth is Made in China Here's the crazy part All of the below items are "Made in China"
My
Gutting Glove Kits
Cheesecloth Bags
Nylon Rope
Toilet Paper for Tracking
Flashlight Batteries
Notebooks for writing in
Climbing Tree Stand
Several of my Hang-On Treestands
Several of my Climbing Sticks
4 Wheeler
Motorcycles
Deer Cart
Ground Blind
Cloth for my Camo
Tracking Markers
Wind Checker
Grunt Tube
Can Calls
Snort Wheeze Call
knives
pruning saw
What this tells me is that I cannot BLAME my Government for Americans loosing Jobs. I contribute to this problem as much or more than the government does. We all say that its because the government allowed free trade with China and Mexico. Well are we all bunch of stupid 5 year olds that NEED someone to tell US HOW, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE TO PURCHASE? Who's actually doing all the PURCHASING OF THOSE GOODS AND PRODUCTS, WE ARE AMERICANS, the government isn't buying the peaches from Mexico, or the Toilet paper from China, or the electronics from Japan. WE THE PEOPLE CREATE THE TRADE DEFICIT.
I know that there has been a lot of debate about our new President, (does not matter what side you are on) versus the old ways. But if every American hunter estimated at 45,000,000 total were to STOP purchasing $100.00 worth of product(s) annually that are manufactured in china (as long as there was an American made equivalent). As you can see this creates no hardship on the hunter, just a little THOUGHT. $4,500,000,000.00 annually would be pumped back into the American economy. I am talking about spending. $0.27 per day on American Made Hunting and Outdoor related products instead of Non-American Made Products. Now relate this to everyday life. 217,800,000 people over the age of 18 in the U.S. if each of us were to spend $100 LESS (annually) on Chinese made products and take that money and save it on American made products (everyday items).
It would generate $21,780,000,000.00 directly into the American economy. Now this takes some thinking and a little thought process, next time you go to the store and look at a can of Peaches or a can of beans, if they are "packaged in mexico" or you are looking a dish soap, or laundry detergent and they say "manufactured in china for Walmart" buy something else if its available and even if it costs a few cents more. You will be saving someone's job. The median Household income (according to the census) in America in 2007 was $50,233.00. So if all Americans were to spend $100.00 less per year on non-American made products and take that same money and spend it on American made products. We would save the equivalent of 433,579.52 middle class jobs. I know this doesn't take into account overhead profit etc. (bear with me I am on a soap box here)
If any of you disagree with what I am talking about here. We as sportsmen/women can make an impact that directly affects, the lives of 89,583 American families. Just by spending $100.00 per year more on American made items vs. non-American made items. I know that it could mean that some companies won't be able to compete, because they are really importers, who profess patriotism while letting the American way of life erode for profits and big gains, because Walmart has a factory in China that pays its workers 3.00 per hour instead of a factory here in the U.S. that pays its workers 14 per hour plus benefits. I am not blaming the poor Chinese worker trying to feed his wife and children, I blame myself for 40+ years of buying whatever was "on sale" or the cheapest.
I am not going to promise that I can stop purchasing EVERYTHING that isn't made in America, that's pretty much unreasonable, but I can try to purchase $100.00 per year on American made items versus non-American made items. Anyone else yah or ney for this proposition. If you are for it, then please forward this onto every website and forum you can are active on.
Sincerely, gamohunter
