Don’t just buy American!

I watched a company die today. There was no press notice, no music, and no fan fair. Just tears and sadness for it’s not a company that most would know and it won’t be missed by many as it was a small local company. A company not unlike all the millions of other little companies that are struggling to survive today.

But unlike the big companies that litter the landscape today it was the kind of place that everyone knew everyone else. And the owner went to the plays and recitals of the kids of his employees more often than he went to the country club to be with his cronies. For his workers have been more like family and friends too him over the years than employees. But the times have taken their toll and the ever growing regulations and rules along with the competition of the giant corporations finally won out. And a dream was extinguished as workers went home never to return.

 As an accountant I see such things every day. And I know just what outsourcing, technology, and the general struggles that small businesses suffer today are doing to our economy. And of course I support the buy American movement that’s sprung up again in this country. But I would suggest that people keep in mind that we shouldn’t just seek to “buy American”. 

For it’s not enough to change from buying from a giant company making its goods in China to buying from a giant company making its goods in America.

It’s time we understood that supporting small businesses in our local neighborhoods and towns is as important as bring work back to America.

For small business is the driving engine that truly keeps us creative and provides the unique nature and spirit of the American dream and all it means. In few other countries can anyone achieve the dreams of their heart as they can here in America. It’s that’s ability to dream and realize that dream that built America and it’s a dream we are letting Washington and the bureaucrats steal from us by giving all the advantages to the big companies.

Unless we recaptured our ability to control our working destiny we will have let the huge multi-national corporations win and it will mean the loss of jobs the like of which we’ve not seen before. And there is no better way to do this than to support small local businesses.

So don’t just buy American, buy local from a business that has its roots supporting the community you live and work in. For when you support and feed a neighbor you support and grow your community. And when you support and grow your community you provide for your future and your children’s, children’s future.