Patriotic Spending June 28 assignment...

First Blog Assignment for June 28,2010
‘Given that the U.S. economy is based on consumer spending, is it patriotic to shop?’
Consumer spending is 80% of the economy therefore, spending money on things we need as well as things we don’t need to beat the recession needs to be taken to a much broader perspective. Since budgets are tight, many Americans living paycheck to paycheck fear spending beyond necessity. Consumers are paying down debt, cutting out impulsive credit card use, and taking greater responsibility for maintaining never-mind finding ‘extra’ money. Not knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a member of the private sector today, the suggestion from people holding relatively secure government jobs is practically insulting.
Conscientious spending can be learned, budgeting by looking for sales, coupons, avoiding impulse buys and for some, avoiding the ‘big box’ stores that promote buying more than we intended on top of having to pay to shop there! Even those Americans who have not lost their jobs altogether, whether their income has been completely untouched or they have had days/hours cut live in fear of losing said job since no great strides have been made in the economy.
The ‘government for the people’ has not been able to restore their status if you will people do not trust the government today. Most Americans today are in constant fear of unemployment, homelessness, hunger… some have been led to very extreme measures from deep feelings of hopelessness.
Like it or not, Pop culture contributes to the US economy today, especially via the internet with the various types of opportunities to express oneself, to earn an education, to shop, work, communicate… The ‘Be American, Buy American campaign could become the newest Pop Culture craze. With this thinking being encouraged over the internet even other countries will shop American. We need to choose to shop ‘Made in the USA’ to do our part in keeping American money in America and in relieving the fear and mistrust that has built up around us.
Newt Gingrich proposes changes that benefit the American job market, i.e. reducing payroll tax 15% and eliminating estate tax and capital gains tax. Other voices http://www.city-data.com/forum/shopping-consumer-products/235453-should-we-shop-patriotic-save-americas.html
express such ideas as looking for American made products at all stores especially big box stores, letting business’ know when a purchase was not made because it was unavailable with an American label. People need to be re-educated about how our daily live can be an investment in America. Also, not only do we need to continue to educate future generations we need to allow ourselves to be educated by the newer culture that is so rapidly growing around us. Knowledge, all knowledge, equals power equals pride in our country, pride in spending habits, pride in doing one’s part.
Here the Pop Culture aspect can play a significant role. A role in which we need the governments support not necessarily direction. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- a powerful equation.

This leads to the idea being generated by www.MadeInTheUSA.com - an American based organization consisting of a small group of manufactures who believe ‘circle economics’ to be the key to rebuilding the US economy. “Be American, Buy American”
(Fox News video @ https://www.madeinusa.com/?action=showd&page=newspr) . Made in USA was launched on July 4th, 2009 and as of October 2009 has 300,000 business signed on to their site, with a goal of reaching 1,000,000,000 these businesses are already making it easier for consumers to buy American and be connected to US manufacturers. This opportunity is free to all US businesses. Made in the USA believes in two powerful educational methods to bring consumers together to learn and practice Patriotic Spending:
1) The practice of circle economics which will reduce the unemployment rate and increase economical strength. This creates the image of a ball rolling downhill which starts slow, picks up speed and eventually becomes an unstoppable force creating new jobs and restoring the US economy. Each circle creating more power than the previous circle.
2) Recycling Dollars It is much like the current focus on protecting our natural resources by recycling materials wherever possible. The combined buying power of American consumers is used to purchase products made in the USA- those dollars stay in our system. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- this is the power of Patriotic Spending.


“Americans have a greater impact on the health of the US economy than any stimulus package. Patriotic spending recycles American money and keeps the economy strong.”