Buy American: U.S. Shooting Self in Foot
Selfishness and shortsightedness have always been double-edged swords. Although it may be comforting to ignore the consequences now, it may require paying a steep price in the future. The U.S.’ “Buy American” provision may turn this saying into reality.
“Buy American. Layoff foreigners.” The source of this jingle surprisingly comes from the U.S. government. The first half is directly related to a provision from the U.S.’ new economic stimulus plan. In terms of foreign trade, the U.S. government, led by Obama, is taking this egoism to extremes. Similarly, the House of Representatives added into the new economic stimulus plan a “protectionist clause” that states infrastructure projects can only use iron and steel products made in the U.S if they are to receive financial support from the stimulus plan. Related content includes a clause stating that any uniforms and textile products used by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must be 100% “Made in U.S.A.” Even though it is not known whether the new “unanimous” plan passed by the Senate and the House will actually contain this clause, it has already caused a great amount of discussion and uproar, and it raises people’s suspicions about this “new America.”
This “Buy American” momentum has had a growing trend in the U.S., and it has already incited fierce attacks from various countries, including the U.K., Canada, and other “allies.”
Undoubtedly, an excessive tendency toward self-interest has made some U.S. politicians ignore an important question: in the end, are there more American consumers or more global consumers? In the U.S., some more level-headed opinions have indicated that in case other countries “imitate the U.S.” or adopt retaliatory measures, consumers in those countries will only buy domestic goods, and then, U.S. industries will face a difficult problem with exports. This will deliver a serious blow to many U.S. exporters, which have suffered greatly in this financial crisis.
Even in their own country, snobbish politicians are creating a snobbish U.S. As we see from the second half of that jingle, some politicians advocate that in the midst of this financial crisis, the first people that should be laid off are “foreigners working in the U.S.” At the same time, they request that the priority of the bailout funds is to safeguard the jobs of U.S. citizens. Why is this the case? Even if they pay taxes like everyone else, it is no help because foreigners working in the U.S. have no voting rights. Therefore, these politicians can openly and legally make such claims and utterly pay no attention to fairness or to the feelings of foreigners working in the U.S. In this crisis, the popular American saying, “All men are created equal,” has been reduced to “All Americans are created equal.” The people hurt by this behavior not only include “non-citizens” working in the U.S. but also some clear-headed U.S. citizens. We all know that we share a common fate. Who can predict the next group of people who will be sold out in the next crisis?
Most Americans living in this financial whirlpool are bearing the burden of an unstable economy and a lack of confidence. The people who are still enjoying a safe income are those interest groups, including the Wall Street “elite,” whether they succeed or fail.
Because it has more economic problems than it can cope with, the U.S., which has always advocated sticking to a contract, has been flip-flopping, focusing on short-term gains instead of long-term development, and even shooting itself in the foot. We can say that compared to the financial crisis, the U.S.’s “spirit” is suffering a greater challenge.
“Buy American. Layoff foreigners.” The source of this jingle surprisingly comes from the U.S. government. The first half is directly related to a provision from the U.S.’ new economic stimulus plan. In terms of foreign trade, the U.S. government, led by Obama, is taking this egoism to extremes. Similarly, the House of Representatives added into the new economic stimulus plan a “protectionist clause” that states infrastructure projects can only use iron and steel products made in the U.S if they are to receive financial support from the stimulus plan. Related content includes a clause stating that any uniforms and textile products used by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must be 100% “Made in U.S.A.” Even though it is not known whether the new “unanimous” plan passed by the Senate and the House will actually contain this clause, it has already caused a great amount of discussion and uproar, and it raises people’s suspicions about this “new America.”
This “Buy American” momentum has had a growing trend in the U.S., and it has already incited fierce attacks from various countries, including the U.K., Canada, and other “allies.”
Undoubtedly, an excessive tendency toward self-interest has made some U.S. politicians ignore an important question: in the end, are there more American consumers or more global consumers? In the U.S., some more level-headed opinions have indicated that in case other countries “imitate the U.S.” or adopt retaliatory measures, consumers in those countries will only buy domestic goods, and then, U.S. industries will face a difficult problem with exports. This will deliver a serious blow to many U.S. exporters, which have suffered greatly in this financial crisis.
Even in their own country, snobbish politicians are creating a snobbish U.S. As we see from the second half of that jingle, some politicians advocate that in the midst of this financial crisis, the first people that should be laid off are “foreigners working in the U.S.” At the same time, they request that the priority of the bailout funds is to safeguard the jobs of U.S. citizens. Why is this the case? Even if they pay taxes like everyone else, it is no help because foreigners working in the U.S. have no voting rights. Therefore, these politicians can openly and legally make such claims and utterly pay no attention to fairness or to the feelings of foreigners working in the U.S. In this crisis, the popular American saying, “All men are created equal,” has been reduced to “All Americans are created equal.” The people hurt by this behavior not only include “non-citizens” working in the U.S. but also some clear-headed U.S. citizens. We all know that we share a common fate. Who can predict the next group of people who will be sold out in the next crisis?
Most Americans living in this financial whirlpool are bearing the burden of an unstable economy and a lack of confidence. The people who are still enjoying a safe income are those interest groups, including the Wall Street “elite,” whether they succeed or fail.
Because it has more economic problems than it can cope with, the U.S., which has always advocated sticking to a contract, has been flip-flopping, focusing on short-term gains instead of long-term development, and even shooting itself in the foot. We can say that compared to the financial crisis, the U.S.’s “spirit” is suffering a greater challenge.
it is the final straw of a country in a decline.
it is futility in motion.
give us a break we are in trouble big trouble.
reagan economics backfired on us.
w edwards deming saw this coming decades ago. but no one listened to him.
ike saw this coming in 1961 if we did not reduce our industrial military complex in peace time instead we chose cold wars to keep it intact.
there are universal laws that act on nations as well as individuals and china confused religious dogma with these universal laws.
america is experiencing its own karma. it will learn but not before it suffers the loss of most of its middle class.
imperialism has its price. check out history for that price. hint bankruptcy and loss of middle class.
the existing two wars will finish the touches for that bankruptcy.
please note no one in america is suggesting we reduce our industrial military complex or our 700 hundred bases around the world. super power status is an ego thing and we americans love being the big kid on the block.
few will understand my words. very few.
The United States should begin to slowly cut imports with china. Maybe this means we have to put major tariffs in place, but whatever the cost is we can not continue to depend on these people for cheap gooods. Americans should role up their sleeves and begin making the same products here in the US. This will not only end our addiction to the chinese but it will also create a solid base of manufactering once again in the US. This would create a very stable economy, one in which America is not only the Top tech developer in the world but also produces most of its own goods at home! If this is accomplished Chinas’s own economic development can be slowed dramatically,hopefully curbing its desire to “play with the big boys”. China and Russia could pose significant threat to American Allies, but only if we allow them to through our need to consume. Let us build up the economy, this time with a strong base, and show the world once again we dont play around. P.S. We could rule the world.
Golly, the Chinese advising us not to buy American couldn’t be a teensy bit self-serving?
“P.S. We could rule the world.”
for everyone that reads these blogs this is a typical american response. america wants to rule the world.
americans even believe they have a god given right to rule the world. bet hitler thought the same thing.
this is imperialism defined. i keep saying this on this blog but no one understands the american mentality.
americans dont have a clue they are imperialists. when is the world going to wake up and call us what we are imperialists. we have 700 military bases around the world if that is not imperialism what is???????
no all of you want to sell us your stuff. we americans know how to buy stuff even if we have to borrow money to buy it.
the chinese loan us money so we can buy their stuff but at least we can pay them back with a devalued dollar.