What if everything bought by federal agencies was required to be made in America?

2015-02-25T12:23:09-05:00

With lawmakers pushing once again for all flags used by government agencies to be made in America, do you think it should stop there? I personally believe that anything bought by any government agency should have to be manufactured in the United States. What is your opinion on the matter?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-03-16T17:51:26-04:00

It would make sense to do this, SFC Private RallyPoint Member. Not only would it keep money within borders, stimulating what there is of the economy, but it could also spur a growth in industry to produce said items.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 6:16 PM

2015-03-16T18:16:36-04:00

I'm a supporter, SFC Private RallyPoint Member. I remember one "Wounded Warrior Day" when I worked at the Pentagon: we all got small flags to wave as the wounded warriors walked (or rolled) through the halls of the Pentagon. Guess where those flags were made. Yep, China. Pitiful. Here we were - Pentagon personnel (military, civilian, contractors) - honoring wounded warriors, and we were waving flags made in China. How ironic. How pitiful. I'm all for the "All-American Flag Act."

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 3:55 PM

2015-05-14T15:55:30-04:00

It's a nice idea, i guess. But it's completely unrealistic. Our government couldn't afford it. Asian countries make better electronics than we do, and they do it cheaper, too. I'm referencing an article I read over at TI. I'll link it if I can find a copy online.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-07-09T08:43:17-04:00

I agree with this. All of our equipment should be made in America.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 3:24 AM

2015-07-13T03:24:55-04:00

I am a supporter.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-10-21T22:55:17-04:00

100% agree SFC, we need to make this country the economical powerhouse it used to be and bring manufacturing back to the mainland. Even if we need to buy parts from other countries, we need that American pride back. We need more citizens to be patriotic instead of trash talking this country.

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Oct 24 at 2015 7:26 AM

2015-10-24T07:26:34-04:00

The corporations will never allow it. It is profit above all any more and ideals mean nothing.
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric once described GE as a raft that gets floated to wherever profit will be highest. A few years ago GE moved the manufacturing of MRI and X-Ray machines to Europe. At the time Immelt was the Chair of Obama's job creation committee.
Frequently the word Fascism is thrown around to describe any political agenda that deprives the people of liberty. The real meaning is the relationship of business and the political system.
The word comes from the Roman Ax. An ax head at the top of a bundle of sticks representing a group being used to wield the ax(sword) of teh state. It's called a fascisti. It was the symbol of Mussoini's Romanticist political party which was going to return Italy to its empire status. It was financed by Italian business.
Likewise the German National Socialists. Financed by Speer, Thyssen, Krupp, Porsche, Bayer and many other corporations. It too had the goal of restoring German power. The corporations were only interested in keeping the Communists out because they feared nationalization.
In both cases the corporations thought they could control the political movement.
Here in the US they are controlling everything. They own the Congress and even the Presidency. They finance whatever government will produce the most profit. So much of our manufacturing is now overseas that it is now almost impossible to find many products that aren't. That little timer in a toaster oven comes from China. Two years ago millions of them failed. I know because mine did. I wanted to just change the part and could not find one anywhere. That's when I found the complaints. This timer was used in almost every brand of toaster oven on the market. I found a Chinese manufacturer's website that was selling them. For as little as 10,000 units you could buy that timer for 30 cents. Where was our government that should have been filing a lawsuit or banning this manufacturer's product? Nowhere, because GE was the largest "manufacturer" of these toaster ovens.
A few years ago there a stink over the new berets the Army had started wearing. They were produced in China. Millions were junked and replaced only because citizens got worked up by it. Olympic contestant uniforms are made overseas. Soon you can expect the firearms you depend on to come from overseas too. Oh wait! Isn't Barretta an Italian company. The guns you use are made here but the money goes to Europe. Meanwhile COLT is in bankruptcy again.
Your little flags are just a drop in the bucket. Many years ago the CEO of GM said that what's good for American business is good for America. I wonder what he'd say to that today.
Our military is being ground into dust by constant warfare. People returning home broken by nonstop deployments, families destroyed. The increasing size of the VA cannot care for them all no matter how much money it gets. But GM, Boeing, United Technologies, drug manufacturers and other corporations have a great bottom line. Taxpayers are subsidizing Walmart's and McDonald's employees with SNAP, Section 8 and Medicaid but their bottom lines are great.
This is Fascism.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 24 at 2015 9:22 AM

2015-10-24T09:22:17-04:00

All products our government purchases should be made in the USA

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Oct 24 at 2015 11:22 AM

2015-10-24T11:22:06-04:00

The Buy American Act of 1933 is still in effect, but has been watered down by amendments and various trade agreements. Too much American industry has been sent to offshore providers. God help us when we have to mobilize for war again.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 3:19 PM

2015-10-24T15:19:42-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Agree 125% about the American Flags we fly. The economy is so screwed up, let's take baby steps to get back to "everything" the government buys. De Oppresso Liber.:-))