I've been wanting to blog for a long time now. As a former journalist turned stay-at-home mother, I missed writing every day. Until now, I've leaned on Facebook to help quench my thirst to share random facts from my daily life online. My friends have told me that what I've done on Facebook is, in fact, blogging. So when I decided that our family's New Year's resolution would be to buy American-made products, my husband suggested I start a blog. So here I am. No one is following me. No one is reading (yet?!) This is completely for me. A testament to what I'm about to try to do.
Why make this resolution to buy only 'Made in the USA?' A couple of months ago, I was grocery shopping (something I do A LOT), and a woman in the aisle I was in was feverishly reading the labels on boxes and cans. As I passed her, she jerked around to me and asked wide-eyed, "Can you believe this canned fruit is made in Mexico?!?!?!?" Then she started looking at can-after-can-after-jar, reading off the labels: "Made in Mexico! Canada! Taiwan!" I kept walking, leaving the woman to her search for American-made food products. But what she said to me lingered in my mind. I decided to look at the labels for much of the food I buy regularly. She was right! Much of the food my family ate came from other countries.
I didn't think much of it again... until I watched a report by David Muir on ABC World News Tonight. He has been reporting on the impact we, as consumers, have on our economy by buying products made in other countries. It has been eye-opening. In their story, ABC News estimates that if each American spends just 1% more each year on American-made products, 200,000 jobs could be created. It makes sense, doesn't it?
So, it got me thinking. There's no reason I shouldn't try to do my part to keep people in this country working. And so I resolved to make an effort to buy American in the New Year. Actually, I got so excited about the idea, that I started early! Two days before New Year's Eve, I went grocery shopping and everything I bought was American-made. Then I went back to the grocery store today and -- oops! -- my salmon was raised in Chile. It was the only thing I didn't check the label for until it was too late. I've got to get better at that!! Truth is: the salmon raised in Chile was on sale for $5.99/lb whereas the salmon raised in the USA was $11.99/lb. I was blinded by the $$$.
Oh. And I went to the wine store to buy wine for a New Year's Eve party we're having and -- you guessed it -- I bought Argentinian wine.
Obviously, I have a long way to go. But I feel pretty good for only having two honest goofs. And I still have a whole day until 2012 to go!
It will be a fun journey. But I think it will be a lot more difficult than I first expected. We shall see. If you happen to stumble on my blog and have any suggestions for me... I'll take `em! I love this country. I want to see people be able to get back to work and I want to help! It may be a small step... but it's my step.
God Bless America. And Happy New Year!
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