by Earl Weldon

Created on: February 20, 2009

"Support your LOCAL economy!"

...It may not be "politically correct" these days, but I favor of a grass-roots movement and backlash against large corporations that are, as they say, "selling us all down the river" by sending jobs and supporting jobs overseas that could be done HERE by Americans.

Of course, companies must control costs & find cheaper ways to do things. We must all do that in business. Yet, at what ultimate cost? The movement to do so many jobs overseas is clearly HURTING this country, and with every new company that jumps on board, our job base gets weaker and weaker, as does our whole economy. I am TIRED of phone calls from India with accents so thick I can barely understand them, when I KNOW they are taking American jobs that might at least pay $7 - $10 an hour. Some Americans would be HAPPY to have these jobs right now, but corporations keep sending these jobs overseas to save themselves more money! (I read an article that there are over 500 call centers now in India) ... I have NOTHING against Indians. I wish them well! ... But I live in America! ... An America that is hurting! Hey, HERE's an idea! How about McDonald's, Burger King, or Wendy's giving away an "American-made" toy with their kiddie meals? Who got those companies to their current level of success? Was it Chinese families?

Public opinion MUST shift toward supporting Americans, and it should be carried out on the most LOCAL level possible. Why the local level? Because smaller businesses must, by nature, care about the area they are in. Small business provides jobs in the areas served. The workers themselves LIVE and SHOP in the area, spending their money, obtaining their goods and services from area people. Small companies also rarely support the type of multi-million-dollar executives who escape scott-free personally, even when they land their corporations into bankrupcy and then cry to Washington for bail-outs!

We're all guilty of contributing to the job exodus when we want only the LOWEST price, not caring where it came from or who made it. Years ago, maybe it didn't matter that much when other nations were hired to do cheaper work here and there. But today, we are dangerously close to the edge of the precipice! We are WAY TOO DEPENDENT on other countries for everything. We are like ancient Esau, selling his birthright to get the comfort of a full belly. Buy local (as much as possible) and improve the world!

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