Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey

I’ve wanted to watch Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey since it came out two years ago. This morning, in need of some inspiration, I carved out a few hours from work to watch it. While I was hoping for something that would inspire me, unfortunately, I walked away from the movie with no clear resolution. Like Detropia, it paints a grim picture of the American Dream. A picture of the divide between rich and poor, a lack of jobs, and the depression and desolation that outsourcing has created in cities across our nation. This tale is no different than the one detailed in my Crumbling American Dreams post.

While there are many consumers devoted to buying American Made products, a broad, large-scale consumer driven movement towards American Made is necessary for businesses to thrive, thus creating jobs that retain a middle class. Since the majority of spending comes from the shrinking middle class, it seems a consumer driven movement is unlikely. It’s simple math. When people don’t have good wage jobs, they don’t have money to spend, which means companies need to reduce expenses. So, companies cut, outsource, or automate jobs. The vicious cycle continues, and the middle class continues to suffer.

While Josh Miller and his crew did a great job documenting the challenges in living only “American Made” and the benefits of a country that manufactures goods, the most moving quote for me was “We’re willing to die for our country, but are we willing to buy for our country?”