Background:
Years ago, there were a series of commercials with Bob Hope asking consumers to look for the Made in U.S.A. label, it matters. Today, most consumers do not realize they have the ability to correct trade imbalances based on their purchases. Moreover, most Americans do not know how trade purchasing foreign goods contributed to the Roman Empire downfall. Without a solid U.S. based industry, jobs and tax revenues are lost. Moreover, we become dependent on foreign companies to produce products to meet our needs. The staggering monthly trade deficit, the bulk of which goes to China, is unsustainable. By educating the American consumer and instilling a sense of nationalism, we can correct the unfair trade practices applied to U.S. goods through consumer purchases.
Suggestion:
Start a series of national advertisements along the line of the older Bob Hope messages. Make this like the ‘just say no’ anti-drug campaign. Create a series of educational programs; make these available through the education system and public broadcast outlets, and focus on how the consumer is empowered to correct trade problems. Acknowledge there are countries that manipulate currency and trade practices to the detriment of the U.S. and while we are working to correct these problems; consumers can do their part.
