It would be nice if this sentiment went all the way up through the most expensive consumer items like automobiles.

I could still be living in Michigan, if that was the case.

Detroit will probably never live down the legacy of the mid-1970's-late 1980's vehicles. People still think that's what Detroit churns out, though some know better.

However, here's what's gone forever:

1. US made electronics, for the most part.
2. US made affordable musical instruments
3. US made affordable, yet quality textile based clothing and shoes

Consumer sentiment and buying trends are largely responsible for this.

Remember when Wal-Mart used to brag on selling only US-made items? It wasn't that long ago; perhaps 15 years ago. That was before we all caught the bug of inexpensive from Wal-Mart.

It is very interesting to now live in Colorado. I see more Subarus here in 1 week than I saw in an entire year in the Detroit area. Folks here think they need the all-wheel drive, but they really don't. It's the transplants from the south and southwest that never saw a snowflake all winter where they used to live that think they need AWD for the rare snow storm we get here most winters. FWD works a treat for most, and RWD for those that know what they are doing. Great thing about CO is that the next day the sun shines bright and the 2-4 inches of snow are a memory.

The thing is those Subaru purchasers probably don't know a single soul of who engineered or manufactured those products nor previously American made product. It's like me buying a Vizio TV. It's an appliance to me, and the car purchase is an appliance purchase to them. Once we lose the connection to the person(s) who made the product, it's harder to understand that livelihoods are at stake in purchase decisions. This made it really hard to buy a good ol' Buick LeSabre for my 17 year old. Back in MI, I had my choice of vehicles with the venerable Buick 3800 engine that gets 30+ MPG on the highway, but also has the snot to get out of the way of a Semi bearing down on one. Here it was slim pickings, but I held out and found a grandma owned 2000 LeSabre. 32 MPG on I-25 at 70 mph and lots of sheet metal between the front and rear bumpers and the driver position - great safety record.

This goes all around. We are all guilty of the demise of locally produced consumer items that sustain both white and blue collar jobs when we don't consider country or source of origin.

On a related note: Here's a challenge - rent Food, Inc. and try to take a neutral view as you watch it.

I watched about 15 minutes of Food, Inc. and was humbled and ashamed at my ignorance of big-food manufacturing; which is still US-based, but be prepared to do some serious soul-searching if you choose to watch this movie as you see the effect on the local farmer. While I might sound like a bleeding-heart left-winger, I can say I've voted the other side of the aisle on a 99 to 1 basis. Might be changing for me as I age and as I seek out alternative sources of information than what's on any of the networks.

I buy American, if I can, and if the quality is up to snuff.

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