We will live by two rules now: Buy American and Hire American.
— Donald Trump – Inaugural Address, Jan 20, 2017
I wonder if Trump has been to Sears lately, or Wal-Mart, or JC Penney, places where non-billionaire Americans shop. Try to buy one piece of clothing that’s NOT made in China. I went to look for some shirts recently, and Made-in-Jordan was the only non-China label I found. I could not buy American, I could only buy non-China.
Of course, that is Trump’s argument. For the last 20 years, our trade policies have contributed to allowing this to happen. He is right on that, but it’s not the only reason. The fact that transportation costs have gone down and manufacturing costs in the United States have gone up is another main factor. It’s a complicated world, and simple popular slogans like Buy American and Hire American at an inaugural address do not solve the problem.
We have work to do. And if Trump wanted our respect, he should have bought hats that were made in America.
Trade policies certainly need to always be analyzed and the cost and benefits assessed. However when American corporate executives close factories and move to areas of this country or overseas their motivation is profits. The cost of paying good workers, union workers and non-union, cuts into their bottom line. Better to be in a place where workers have no benefits, minimum wage and no rights seems to be the mindset of so many of our corporate leaders. Let’s place some blame where it belongs on the backs of our overpaid uncaring and unpatriotic American corporate executives.