Where is Our American Pride When it Counts?

     After the news of Bin Laden being killed last night and hearing of the location as to where they found him, I became even more frustrated with all the "deals" oyr government has made with foreign countries. We have given billions of dollars to Pakistan and they were harboring America's most wanted terrorist.  I understand the need to help less advantaged countries - but at this point in the game  America is becoming less advantaged. We cannot wait for Washington to fix these problems - we have to stand united - like they did last night as we all celebrated the passing of a cruel heartless killer that was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans. WE all need to stand up for ourselves now and do the only thing possible to bring jobs back over here.
          It sickens me to think of how the money could have been put to better use.
The United States is also investing $100 million to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized businesses, and provide $50 million to support investments in innovation and technology projects. According to thsi news article - http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/19/clinton-unveils-major-aid-package-to-pakistan/  - it's because of things like this that I honestly think that the only way this country is going to pull itself back up is going to be on the backs of middle class Americans. We have to stop pointing the finger of blame at all these politicians and start taking care of ourselves.
  The only WAy to Help Your Local Community is :
1 Shop local - meaning shop at a locally owned business - seek out stores owned by individuals in your community
2 Buy only American made products - if demand for American made products go up - then there is a demand for American Manufacturing again
3. American manufacturing means more jobs here and less money going overseas
4. If there are more Americans employed then there is less stress on the welfare system, less crime, less depression
    Think about how every purchase you make - part of your money is going overseas and we are not getting it back. NO ONE is giving us aid and offering to rebuild our communities. We can't even get a break on gas prices. Our homes are worth less - our jobs are disappearing - our teachers are having to work extra jobs to make ends meet. It costs so much to go to college that if our children go they will be in debt with student loans for years to come. Our store fronts are closing down - we are all becoming walmart and amazon zombies -   Even the companies in the USA that are still making products here but owned by foreign investors are syphoning off Americas wealth in a less obvious way. 
     There is a plant closed down 60 miles from me because they cannot continue to work because the pieces they need to assemble all come from Japan - and NO ONE in the US makes it anymore - so hundreds are waiting to work until someone figures out that mess.  My point is that America needs to be able to stand on it's own - especially if the rest of the world continues to look to us for humanitarian reasons. 
     I realize I sound like a broken record at this point but I actually have a plan - and I intend to follow through with it and pray that it helps. The challenge once again is that this is a $0 campaign and I am doing all the work myself so it's going to be tough getting this ball rolling.
     How far can we get without big corporate dollars or support of any political or religious organization?  Can we get the American public to bond together like last night and do the economically healthy thing for our country?  Why has it gotten so difficult to try to do the right thing?  Why are there always people telling you that people do not care and that American products are junky?  Where is our American Pride when it counts?    
     As Always - another soap box rant by:  Amanda Schalau
Have a great day  and Thank you to our US Armed Forces - you are providing the freedom we need to make the choice to Buy Made in the USA - : )