Here’s an interesting quandary. We all know the Iron Range mining sector is reeling right now. Partly because of this, our elected officials sought and received some strict “buy American” provisions in the federal economic recovery package. The logic was to bolster American steelmakers and iron mining operations by ensuring that American steel was used to build all those bridges and roads. Sounds great.
But here’s this. In my mind, one of the most important aspects of the recovery act is the investment in rural broadband (high speed internet everywhere). Such internet penetration would allow more communities and entrepreneurs to participate in the 21st century economy. On THAT front, the “Buy American” rules might actually hinder the U.S. companies most able to step in and start work now, according to this xChange story.
Buying American isn’t as simple as it once was. I am wondering if the ticket to our economic recovery is redefining what that term actually means.
As for “Buy American” and Buy Local (in Aitkin, MN, on Hwy 169 & 210):
This is a good idea – when good products and good services can be found within our borders.
But after sub-standard manufactured products continued with “Made in USA” labels – like my Chevrolet lemons of 1971 and 1980, I bought the best available autos: Toyota Corolla & Camry.
In the 1970s my employer in St Louis could not get steel made in the USA to meet the demanding standards for the reactor vessel and containment structure of the nuclear power plant at Callaway County, Missouri.
We had to buy Japanese, where U.S. experts had trained the post WW-II Japanese in quality control methods. Then I introduced quality circles of the Japanese style to train control room operators at our
plant.
Today we see the effect of corporate bosses deciding that “Cheap is good; go make it in China.”
Result? Killer pet food. Killer wallboard in the Hurricane Katrina rebuild. Wal-Mart forcing down costs and quality of suppliers with a forced march to China – and driving local stores out of business.
The Deregulation zealots have encouraged our airlines to move their maintenance offshore – to Taiwan and China. Beware the Unfriendly Skies overhead. Be careful what you board. Ask questions about those extremely cheap tickets.
In Naval Air we used to say we didn’t get paid more – we just got paid faster.