Extreme Consumers: Spending to Make an Impact

Does Made in America matter to you?

It matters a lot to me if it means what it says.

If it actually means Assembled in the U.S.A., or Made in the U.S.A. - Assembled in China then not so much.

I don't know what the guidelines for putting a label that says Made in the U.S.A. are.

Kinda skipped the middle part there when I saw that a group was being introduced, so feel free to delete my comments here. I'm probably not the example you were looking for. Didn't realize ya'll were doing something different here. Sorry, I know that's not good etiquette...I was firing off comments like a crazy person. Silly, silly.

I don't know what the guidelines for putting a label that says Made in the U.S.A. are.

I forget sometimes how easy it is to find that kind of information online...I got the answer straight from the source.

the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.

"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.

My comment was on the cynical side of things...I've felt like companies misuse Made in the U.S.A. and I haven't educated myself on what the rules are for having that label.

I've assumed, during most of the time that it could be said that I have had purchasing power...which it never really could be said...I've assumed that Made in the U.S.A. was a label that was used for marketing and likely to be misleading. I was commenting more on the fact that it means a lot IF the money is staying in our country. I don't know how well this is enforced when terms like 'virtually' and 'negligible' are used in the guidelines. Apparently a proposal that the product be 75% manufactured in the U.S. was never put into effect.

I'm not an extreme consumer. I am more likely to buy something if it is labeled Made in the U.S.A., if only from being hopeful that it means what it says, but I don't seek out the label because I haven't trusted the administration to keep track of this kind of thing.

I'm interested in knowing how I'm wrong or how to be better at buying American. The key word above is that I've been assuming these things. Reading the guidelines didn't do much for me though.

I'm interested in knowing how I'm wrong or how to be better at buying American. The key word above is that I've been assuming these things. Reading the guidelines didn't do much for me though.

Outstanding question and the answer is do it carefully. The very best assurance is to get what you can locally, support the small business, local artisans, service workers and farmers.

Local Harvest is a fantastic resource to search by zip code for growers near you or shipped to you by family businesses. It also helps support heirloom crafts and crops since demand increases supply. But in terms of major brands and manufacturers, there are more ways to lie to consumers than you can shake a stick.

There are lobbying lawyers with legalise to make loopholes, to cheat and get filthy rich too. Sweat shops with slave wages and unthinkable conditions can qualify too. Get a lobbyist, a few million and like magic islands in the Pacific can be a "virtual equivalent" and Made in the USA for you too!

One notable case was the Abramoff, DeLay, K Street Project scam of sweat shops in the Northern Marianna's making GAP, Calvin Klein etc with Made in USA labels and the only thing made here were obscene profits and human rights abuses. Trademarks of Congress corrupt to the bipartisan core. This old piece from TPM Muckraker has the best summary I know of.

I've felt like companies misuse Made in the U.S.A. and I haven't educated myself on what the rules are for having that label.

They do. Abramhoff was lobbying for places like American Samoa, that are exempt from US labor and consumer protection laws, yet are considered inside the USA for the label.

The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.

From the FTC.

When I read the FTC guidelines and saw how nebulous they are...I didn't feel like my assumptions were too far off.

I don't know how much of the products we buy are made in the US but I bet it goes down year by year.

We are in growing globalism. We must be careful about putting up trade barriers especially given our current recession. This very tactic was used by most countries during the Great Depression and it made things much worse.

Yes, TopJedi, you're right on the high costs in Hawaii, almost everything has to be shipped in. Most mail order has that extra bump for AL/HI, unless they use postal service, which few do. I moved from LA so the usual high price - rents - weren't so different. The first thing I noticed was the cost of cereal, almost double the price.

Worse, though, was the total lack of recycling. That's changed a little bit, with bottle deposit/return but boy did consumers fight that nickel. Then the state made it so difficult to return the empties: short hours, long lines, hand counting, etc. Since I rarely drink sodas I just dumped them in with glass jars and newspapers in the local high school bins but a lot of people stuck it out, complained and several years later it's much more successful - 60% returned - and we recently began some curbside recycling after several failed attempts. The main excuse given is no where to send it or too expensive to send it. This, even as our one dump site is full and needs special dispensation to expand.

We do, however, have a trash to energy facility, but it's not nearly enough. Solar power is just now making inroads and that mainly due to new military housing. A close friend, state Representative Mina Morita of Kauai is a tireless advocate and has been instrumental in getting envirnomental legislation passed, including solar tax credits. It's never enough but due to more of the public getting interested, things are changing for the good.

I do think we have a good record on species protection. Island agriculture can be decimated quickly and the landowners and big ag interests have managed that. Development here is as powerful as most places - that's where the political donations are and it works, very much a pay to play environment. Changing, yes, but it's the consumer that drives the engine.

So thanks again, anything that rallies consumers to do the right thing and just as important makes it easy helps all of us. The "carbon footprint" of food is the new concept but difficult here because of limitations. We have good selection generally but on the mainland where Whole Foods is called Whole Paycheck, when visiting the kids I go straight there and can buy food for all of us and not skimp, yet spend the same or less than at home for just myself.

My brother was stationed on Oahu for five years and said many of the same things. With fuel prices what they are, I imagine it has gotten worse than it was just those few years ago. Everything that has to be shipped is related to fuel prices...and Hawaii requires more fuel than most, if not all, other states.

I visited several times and really loved it. One of the green things that I noticed about that island, was the lack of a need for air conditioning most of the time. None of the places that my brother lived had AC, because it wasn't needed. The breeze and mild temperatures made it less of a priority when renting. I don't know how much of a dent in spending or wastefulness it makes since Hawaii is so small, or if it counterbalances some of the price differences, but it still seemed so natural and nice and I was wondering if that is your experience as well, Kathy.

Vacationing here is different than living here although the weather is generally wonderful. Sometimes too warm, lately vog (volcanic ash making smog) which is unpleasant, rains a lot but short duration. On vacation it's all beach time and no work. Work here as everywhere sucks up free time and it's the same here. Many people have second or third jobs to make ends meet.

As for A/C, the highrises have them but homes were built for tradewinds to blow through. It's really nice unless the aforementioned vog or hot spell comes. I have no heater in my unit, though. However, I've used my down comforter a dozen or so times.

But what I wanted to add because just this morning driving in, I realized what I forgot to say in my previous posting. The SUV dilemma. I live in a downtown highrise and driving down I counted over 40 SUVs parked - and that's before the workday crowds arrived. Traffic is nasty, like most places, and clogged roads with oversized SUVs is annoying. That doesn't even take into account the big Toyota vans, which at least are due in part to large families, but still. I would give urban Honolulu low marks on any attempt at vehicle environmentalism. It's a small but growing group but I would say fully a third of the vehicles on the road are not gas-friendly.