Swiss chocolate is a common cheat item for those who buy American. If you have a few imported items that you just can't do without, don't even worry about it. Continue to buy those items. What's important is that you buy American whenever you can as a general rule.
It’s time for a little more discussion about the guidelines of the Buy American Challenge. I am going to make a strong case to buy American for a lot of people that have previously thought buying made in U.S.A. isn’t for them. Let my highlight what is perhaps the most important guidelines of the Buy American Challenge program – you get cheat items!
This actually blows a lot of people’s minds when I tell them that. When most people think about buying American, they picture buying nothing but goods made in the U.S.A. under any circumstances. But that is not the program that I recommend because truly buying nothing but American-made items is near impossible without a great deal of deprivation. Going cold turkey doesn’t work because it is too difficult to stick with it.
That is precisely why cheat items are built into the Buy American Challenge program. It’s like building a few sweets into your diet so you don’t fall off the wagon and eat two pints of Ben and Jerry’s. Cheat items are actually very important because they make a program that could otherwise be difficult quite palatable, and actually fun.
Recently, a friend of mine who seemed interested in buying American wrote me and asked: “But what about my French wine and Irish whiskey? More seriously… This could be almost impossible, given how many things are made overseas these days.”
For her, French wine and Irish whiskey are two items she has an existing attachment to that she is not willing to do without. Even though she might like to buy American in lots of cases, she isn’t willing to go on a no-exceptions program because of these items. As a result, she might give up on buying American altogether.
That is why the Buy American Challenge program allows for cheat items. On the Buy American Challenge program, one is allowed as many as five “cheat items” (or more if you really need more). If you simply can’t live without a specific foreign-made good, you can continue to purchase it. My friend loves French wine and Irish whiskey, so she can continue to buy these products on her buy American program.
The key is to get people buying American as a general rule. That in itself is enough to make a big difference. If they want to keep buying a few select imported goods, that’s fine. It is still a big step in the right direction overall.
I also want to touch on another one of the Buy American Challenge guidelines very briefly. One may buy a specific foreign-made product if the item is simply not made, grown, or raised in the United States. My friend was concerned that a buy American program would be impossible because of how many products are now made overseas. It’s true, some things simply aren’t made in the U.S.A. anymore. That is why the Buy American Challenge program allows you to buy foreign-made goods if an American-made version is unavailable. You don’t have to go without cell phones or bananas. They aren’t made or grown in the U.S., so you should buy them as you please and not worry about it. There are plenty of other American-made items you will be able to buy.
The Buy American Challenge is about supporting American businesses and creating American jobs whenever we can. It’s not about depriving ourselves of modern necessities.
Finally, I want to remind you that these are just guidelines. They are a place to start for those looking for a buy American program. But each person ultimately chooses thier own program.
Maybe, after reading this, you are realizing that buying American is easier than you thought. Believe me, it really isn’t all that hard, especially after you get passed the first couple weeks.
I challenge you to take the Buy American Challenge for one week and see how it goes.
I promise you three things. First, you will spend less money than before because you will not be making nearly as many impulse decisions. Second, the things you do buy will generally be of higher quality because American-made goods tend to be very well-made. Third, you will feel great about knowing you are helping create jobs for Americans every time you make a purchase.
I started buying American, and now I love it. I will be doing this the rest of my life.
Until next time, here’s to doing what we can to support our country by buying American.
Randy
I am a 30 year long consumer of Made in USA products so I pretty much took the Buy American Challenge three decades ago. (I don’t buy a pen unless it’s Made in USA.) I’m also an American manufacturer and the web person for a consumer directory of domestic products. As such, I wholeheartedly support buying American.
Even though my home is filled with Made in USA furniture, furnishings, appliances, apparel, etc. there are exceptions. There is champagne from France in my home, a piece of Waterford crystal and bananas come to mind.
Some of the “cheat items” you mentioned appear to me to be examples of what I consider legitimate trade.
For all my involvement and dedication to U.S. manufacturing, I most certainly support sound, fair & balanced trade of both raw materials and finished goods.
We have manufacturers that utilize raw materials found in other countries. One such example is bamboo which is manufactured in the U.S. into flooring and clothing. Our chocolate producers often use cocoa bean which is found in other countries. As fussy as I am, I certainly don’t mind purchasing a U.S. made chocolate made with foreign produced cocoa beans. If your friend desires an entirely domestic chocolate product, there is cocoa produced in Hawaii and chocolate made in that state from the domestic cocoa.
Consumers also deserve choices and selection in the marketplace, especially fine products from foreign producers with an expertise.
The words “Made in USA” were always a source of pride to me but the word “imported” has changed significantly in my lifetime.
As a child in the 1960’s, just about everything was Made in the USA. It was actually something special and unusual, “fancy” even that was imported. When a woman in the neighborhood purchased an imported set of china from England, word of the purchase spread throughout the neighborhood. “Oh, that china must be beautiful.” “I wonder how much it cost.” “Did her husband get a raise?”
Today, the word imported most often denotes schlock. Unlike my childhood, the U.S. trades today not for the finest products from around the world, but for sub-standard products that realize the largest profit margins.
I have no doubt that anyone taking the Buy American Challenge will be forming a habit that will last their lifetime. I would not have continued to buy Made in USA products for three decades without benefit. I’ve simply found no down side to all my purchases. I am a brand loyal shopper but that ceases whenever production moves abroad. This results in discovering new domestic brands which somehow exceed my expectations. There is nothing like a satisfied consumer – that’s me, for the past 30 years.