FAQS

Q: Shouldn't the US participate in the "world economy?"

A: Yes, absolutely, for several reasons including keeping the U.S globally competitive and expanding the U.S. circle of allies. Export deficits may be acceptable for developing countries but the Import/Export ratio needs to balance out with developed countries. Instead, the U.S. is hemorrhaging money, jobs and expertise at exponentially increasing rates to developed countries. See Top Deficit Countries.

Q: Isn't it nearly impossible to Buy American today? My Harley has Japanese parts and my Toyota was assembled in America!

A: I agree that it is not always simple. Consider the nationality of the Company. It's in America's best interest to have American companies call the shots instead of foreign companies with ultimate authority. They may choose in some or all cases to assemble overseas, but

1. If it's American, then the profits come home.
2. If it's American, most often the majority of highly skilled labor is American (including Management and engineering). These highly skilled jobs are difficult to replace if lost.
3. If it's American, then it's Americans that have the ultimate decision making authority. See the Main Discussion for more.

There are varying degrees of "American", but the following table is a good guide:

Consumers have the ultimate say in industries that have not yet left the country but unless we act soon, more industries will leave the country like consumer electronics and others already have.

Q: Isn't it the U.S. Government's job to fix this problem?

A: U.S. consumers are where the rubber hits the road. We make the final decision on which products are purchased and if that money, those jobs and expertise leave the country.

Our Government needs to address the following issues:

• Trade Policies: Scrap Free Trade and implement Fair Trade! If a trade partner regulates our imports, we should regulate their imports. No country or company should have to compete against imported product made with slave labor or companies that have no regard for environmental policies. The government needs to address the issue of trade with countries who manipulate their currency to gain a price advantage over U.S. goods in international markets.
• Health Care: GM and Ford state that $1200 to $1500 of every vehicle's cost is for health care. That is a crippling disadvantage for domestic companies that compete with European and Asian companies that do not have this burden because of their socialized health care.
• Tort Reform: Civil Justice Reform is needed to correct rampant lawsuit abuse. Product liability suits force U.S. manufacturers to raise prices or exit the industry. Health care liability reform is needed to help keep rising costs in check.

  Visit the ATRA and ATRF web sites on the Links Page for more information.

• Education: U.S. education system provides the nation with world class employees.

Q: Isn't it logical for consumers to choose the best product at the lowest cost?

A: Please take that to the extreme: if all foreign products were better than American, soon there would be no Americans working to purchase any products. Closer to reality, consumers need to look at the big picture and consider more than the specific item. All foreign products send money and jobs overseas as detailed in the Main Discussion. If Americans are willing to accept the consequences after thinking it through, then that is their right. Those consequences are an eroding economy, job force and knowledge base. The problem is that most Americans are not giving any thought and do not realize the bigger picture. They wonder why there is now a "Jobless Recovery," why American debt is at a record high and why so many manufacturing shops are closing.

Q: Won't the economies of all countries balance out eventually?

A: Probably, that is the goal for proponents of NAFTA. Even President Clinton who passed NAFTA stated that there will be negative adjustment in the US economy during the balancing out period. The reduced standard of living has already begun and can be seen in the loss of jobs, reduced benefits, raises and bonuses of US workers. Even the UAW has reduced pay and benefits of new workers offering a tiered scale based on date of hire. I believe the actual lowered standard of living is not yet fully realized because it is being artificially propped up by increasing personal debt. Personal debt is at an all time high and cannot continue increasing at the rates of the last decade.

Proponents of NAFTA are operating on theory and no one knows what the long term will bring. It's a given that the U.S. standard of living will decrease in the short term during the balancing out of all world economies. In the long term, the US economy can either balance out at a lower standard or return back to it's previously high standard. Are Americans willing to accept a lower standard? I don't think Americans are considering it as a possibility. Will all world economies rise to a universal high standard? I highly doubt that earth could sustain every country operating with the standard of living the US now enjoys with it's energy and natural resource consumption. Environmentalists can offer some solutions, but those have been only partially successful at best in America. Keep in mind that most third world countries have looser environmental restrictions than the US.