Why We Created Buy USA List
The story of America’s deindustrialization is a tragic tale of loss and change. For many years, the United States was known as the world’s industrial powerhouse, producing a vast array of goods that were sold around the globe. American workers were proud to build the products that powered their nation and helped to define its place in the world. Better still, the vitality of American industry yielded wages sufficient to support a family without a side hustle.
However, in recent decades, this proud legacy has been undone. The rise of globalization fueled by increasingly lax policy on protective tariffs that sustained American jobs, and rising competitiveness of foreign economies, have led to a steady decline in American manufacturing. In June 1979, U.S. manufacturing employment reached an all-time peak of 19.6 million (population 225.1 million). In June 2019, manufacturing employment was at 12.8 million (U.S. population 328.3 million), down 6.7 million or 35 percent, not factoring in population growth. Factories have shut down, jobs have been shipped abroad in favor of slave labor, families have been forced to move elsewhere, and once-thriving industrial towns have become ghost towns. Left behind is a void that is felt in nearly every corner of the country.
Despite this, there is still hope. Buying American still matters. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, there is a total impact of $2.60 to the overall U.S. economy. There has also been the emergence of Buy USA List and other websites devoted to elevating American-made goods. With Buy USA List, consumers now have a powerful tool that makes it super easy to find the best verified American-made products to meet their needs.
Ultimately, though, the choice to “buy American” is about much more than just shopping. By choosing these products, customers can help to ensure that the legacy of American industry lives on, that future generations will have the opportunity to experience the sense of accomplishment that comes from being part of a strong manufacturing community, and leave a lasting legacy of hope and resilience in the face of change.
So, next time you’re in the market for a new product, remember the story of America’s deindustrialization, and choose to make a difference. Choose to buy American-made products. Choose to help the country reclaim its status as an industrial leader, reinvigorate communities that have been left behind, and preserve the values that have made this country great. With your help, and a shift back to trade policy that steered this country to its peak prosperity, we can write another great American comeback story.