American and Local

Try to keep your dollars at home this holiday season

Now that the Christmas season is upon us, many readers will be hitting the stores, finding presents for loved ones as well as decorations for the home and groceries to enhance the holiday feast.

And that’s good. More than good, actually. Spending drives the economy. When we spend we also save or even create new jobs. The people who have those jobs spend their paychecks at other retailers, continuing the cycle.

It’s even better when we spend locally. Yes, you might save a bit of time and money shopping online. And we know the lure of big city shopping can be very tempting. But when you spend your dollars here at home, with local merchants, it benefits our city. That doesn’t happen when you type your credit card number into a web form at some online site or drive to Dallas to do it up big time at a swanky boutique.

But you’ve heard all that before. You know that shopping locally is a good thing.

There is one more thing to consider, though. And that’s buying American-made goods.

Every once in a while there is a movement urging us to buy American. And people like the idea. But few follow through. Most just pay lip service to it and keep buying whatever they always bought, considering price more than origin.

Well, it’s about time we all sat up and took real notice of where our purchases are made — even if only for the holiday season. There are plenty of reasons we should all read the label while in the shopping aisle — the local shopping aisle, we should add.

For our families: Quality and safety standards are often much more lax overseas. We have seen cases over and over of imported toys made with poisonous materials such as lead. When you buy American you have a better idea of what you are getting.

For our community: Local businesses mean local jobs. And those workers spend their wages at other businesses around the area. Without customers those local businesses and local jobs go away. Keeping as much money as possible circulating in our area just makes sense.

For our fellow Americans: Our country has lost manufacturing jobs over the years and they seldom come back from overseas where labor is much less expensive. Without our support, remaining American manufacturers might decide to pull up stakes and head overseas as well, meaning more jobs lost.

For our nation: We are running a trade deficit with China and other nations, which means more money going out and less coming in. With less revenue to tax, our government turns more and more to borrowing — often from the very countries responsible for the trade deficit.

For our planet: Pollution regulations are almost nonexistent in many countries. You don’t have to be an environmentalist or a “green” consumer to understand that free-for-all corruption of air and water is never a good thing.

We know there are some times when you have to buy imported goods. And that’s fine. We aren’t isolationists and don’t recommend you become one either.

But we do urge you to check out labels and, when you have a choice, choose American. And buy those American-made products at local stores. Try it for the holidays. And then see if you can keep it going throughout the year.

It’s a good idea that’s good for all of us.