Have Big Business & the Government Turned it's Back on Us?

   I grow tired of the red tape and the excuses that are being presented to me about why "Buy American" cannot and should not work. The truth of the matter is that people who say it should not be done are the big businesses that have found a less expensive and more efficient way to operate. Yes these companies have sold out their fellow Americans for a few bucks. They decided that the bottom line was more important - what they have failed to realize is that their customer base is going broke. They start peddling their services and products overseas and then they are okay again but we are left holding nothing but a pink slip. These companies that have supported American familes for years - that built their wealth off of our population have turned their backs on us. - and why?  Because the USA government imposes stricter labor laws and environmental standards than the third world countries do.
  What does this mean to you - do you think you matter to that big business or to any of those political parties now? You don't - The political parties are going to follow the money trail - the businesses just threw you away.  The political parties are going to cater to big business to keep their bankroll.
  The only thing you have left is your fellow Americans left out to fend for themselves. All is not lost - we can band together and take back our country with simply beginning to buy American made products - demand that is the way it has to be = teach your children - or the greed that has consumed our leaders will rear it's ugly head for generations to come
  We are becoming a nation of very rich and very poor - there will be no middle class - I refuse to watch this happen to my great country when all we have to do is buy American.
Think about it - let's take America back. One purchase at a time.
Amanda Schalau
Average American

Flag Burners Beware -

The link below is of a guy who tried to burn the American Flag on the LSU campus - Yes he had the right to assemble - but the ones who stopped him had the right to assemble too - I for one am tired of these stupid protest - tha flag represents his freedom so why would he burn it ? - get the HELL out of the country if you hate it so much.     If you need that much attention then go get therapy - get a grip

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUb_qvHX_wc&feature=player_embedded

People need to think how their actions really make them look stupid - remember 9/11 - it's just not popular to burn flags anyone. Go hug a tree or something useful.  Or find a new crack dealer because whatever you are smoking is making you stupid

Shop Local - Does NOT mean Wal-mart

          Recently I have spent most of my time blogging the benefits of buying American made products - today I am going to spend a little time on something that is just as important to your local communities - Shopping LOCAL.  When I use the term "shop local" I am not talking about running down to your local Wal-mart and do your shopping.  When I say "shop local" - I am talking about the individually owned shops around your town. How will this little bit of time and effort on your part benefit you and your community? - Well it starts by keeping more of your spending dollars in your immediate communities. More $$$ in town means more jobs in town right?
         With Mother's Day upon us - I am truly disturbed by all the 1-800 numbers being advertised all over the internet and the television to order good old mom her spring bouquet. - When a person picks up the phone or goes online to order their flowers - they are a middle man taking a cut of the money and having your local florist doing the work and getting paid less. Why not just call your local florist directly and get a custom arrangement unlike all the 1,000s of ones being ordered by a picture online.  Shouldn't your local florist get to know you and what your budget and tastes are like? Wouldn't it be nice to have  relationship with someone in town who is there for you for special occasions?
         I have always used a local florist - always.  When I had my children - they sent me a stuffed animal to say congrats - when Christmas came around I was surprised with a card and a poinsettia - when my husband passed - they were there to hold my hand and the flowers were as special as anything you could imagine.
       Knowing that hundreds of thousands of people out there are missing out on a relationship like that saddens me.
      The average consumer is lost when it comes to communicating their needs with these hard working individually owned businesses - they are used to buying chain store prewrapped gifts that they forget that they call call these locally owned shops and get better gifts and service for the same price. And the gift means more when it doesn't have a Wal-mart sticker on the shrink wrap.
        Beauty shops are especially good at putting together special gifts and most offer gift certificates - also keeping money in your community. Also tell your local beauty shop what hair spray you use - or how much you want to spend on beauty products and let them fill your needs instead of the big box chains that are sending you money out of town.  These people will accomidate your needs - they want to - and your local community will thrive. 
      So to sum it up - using your local businesses - keeps money in your community, creates new jobs, better customer service, spices things up with unique products and added diversity, keeps character downtown with local storefronts, and the most valuable thing that cannot be bought - YOU will be bringing you community closer together as well as making friends that you can invite to your annual Christmas party - instead of emailing thanks yous to all those online stores.  
       By the way - when is the last time you got a invitation to a get together from Wal-mart or 1-800-Flowers?  I must have missed mine - (never)

Spelled Out Again in Black and White

Someone else thinks like me !!!  I am not alone!!!!

Did y’all see  Diane Sawyer's special report. They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .   There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..   It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs! I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA ’ FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA ' I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF. Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think while the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets? 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.   The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own. THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on May 1st and continue it until June 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. Remember, May 1 thru June 1!!!!!! START NOW. Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on, America .

What THEY Want You to Believe

       I know that I have been focusing most of my blogs about manufacturing jobs being lost to overseas, but people need to understand it's no longer only manufacturing jobs that are moving overseas. Technology today has made it easier for most all  types of jobs to be located almost anywhere. This means that  thousands of software development and call-center jobs that used to be located in the USA  have outsourced their business overseas. So our service based economy is suffering and beginning to collapse.                                  Many economists would have us believe that globalization benefits Americans by lowering prices on goods and services.  You can pretty much get an everyday low price on anything these days at your local super centers that make it impossible for the local small businesses to compete. The economists say that this allows these BIG businesses to use the money they save from outsourcing to create other higher-skilled, better-paying jobs in the United States. But if they are outsourcing the manufacturing and NOW outsourcing the service parts of their companies - HOW exactly are we benefiting again? ;In the same breath, they say, 'the countries gaining jobs benefit from stronger economic growth and greater stability'.  So isn't that the answer to our country's problems right now?
    If the answer to a stronger economy and more stability lies in having more jobs - manufacturing and service oriented alike - then why again do we allow things to get outsourced overseas?  If we have no jobs how are we going to buy all these discounted goods from overseas? If we had jobs - couldn't we just pay a few cents more for the American made products?  
     And why did we pass the Buy American Act if BIG companies get to apply for waivers and not follow it at all.  Obama said last year in Feb or May I believe that we had to increase our exports to balance the import/export trade - Why can't we just start making our own things here in the USA?
    The answer is so obvious - the security and economic health of our country depends on us demanding American made products - and our government needs to make it easier for this to happen. But we have got to do our part too - BUY American - from a local business - keep your money in your local community.
That was your Wednesday Rant
I have a plan - stay tuned!
Sincerely, Amanda Schalau

United We Stand, Divided We Fall - America Needs You

    I love my country and feel blessed to have been born here. After Bin Laden was killed we wittnessed how the whole country could come together and celebrate as one. We were united - all together. I was reminded of the days that followed 9/11 and how everyone was ready to defend eachother against these outside forces that threatened our way of life.  The sense of pride that we feel for our country, The United States of America, can be so overwhelming at times it can bring tears into the eyes of out most harden soldiers.
    The outside forces, that dared to threaten our way of life,  we relentlessly hunted for ten years - with no thought of how much it would cost or what sacrifices had to be made. It had to be done - to defend our Lady Liberty.
    Our beloved country and our precious way of life is being threathened again but now in a more subtle way. We are being torn apart, piece by piece and this time the government cannot send troops over to do our fighting for us.  We as Americans have got to recognize the real problem with the economy, we need to understand that with a weak economy there will be less troops to be called upon in our time of need. We have got to take charge of our lives again and bring wealth and jobs back to the United States. We have got to make a deliberate effort in our choices of all products offered to us and choose Made in America first.
  I have a dream that storefronts reopen, that schools will be able to pay teachers their worth, that all our children can afford to go to college. I have a dream that crime is reduced, home values go up and neighborhoods are revived. I have a dream that I can make all the American people - no matter what their political preference - understand the power that they possess when they stand united.
Spread the word - Love your country and it will love you back - Choose American Made
God Bless America
Amanda Schalau