Should the US Government Buy Only US Made Products?

[Tpoints]

That's all that's required to get the cute little sticker that says "Made in the USA" right now.

Pretty meaningless.

but better than nothing.

[LibertyEagle]

Yes they should. They are using our tax dollars and if they are going to extract our money by force, it damn sure should stay in the country.

[Tpoints]

Yes they should. They are using our tax dollars and if they are going to extract our money by force, it damn sure should stay in the country.

what happens when government spends money domestically? (hint : the same thing that happens when government prints money or gives back tax returns or stops fighting wars)

[The Gold Standard]

The government shouldn't be buying any products.

[awake]

It would be a pretty dreary place if you could only buy only what you could make with your own hands. The market system rewards those who produce the best quality at the least expenditure of scarce resources.

The "Buy American" nonsense is really nothing more than a plea to bail out the governments tremendously burdensome tax and regulatory mistakes. It saves the bureaucracy who live off of evermore restrictions to personal liberty and productivity.

Taxes and regulation are nothing but euphemisms for theft. The harshest and most vicious regulation will always be a freely buying consumer.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

How would this idea save the American taxpayers money?

I'd rather Congress sit on cheapo plastic chairs made in China.

[CaptUSA]

I'm a little surprised by some of thought processes in this thread. Have we not learned how trade creates wealth? Comparative advantage?

Any entity, whether individual, corporation, charity, or even government, should buy goods wherever they can get the highest quality for the lowest price - regardless of where that may be. Government spending is already wealth dedstruction, we might as well make the destruction as limited as possible.

(Strictly in terms of the government buying goods, though, I would have to think they'd get the best quality in the US. You can never tell what kind of bugs could be inserted into goods from overseas. Hell, we delivered smallpox blankets to the Indians.)

[nobody's_hero]

Not really sure if I want the government to look for cheaper ways to wage war, for example.

Since we all know the only way these wars will end is by economic collapse, I suggest they continue spending $1000 on hammers.

I know that's a grim way of looking at it, but let's be honest, the spending won't stop until there's nothing left to spend (or the dollar has been devalued to the point that we the people make them stop)

[Pauls' Revere]

I am in favor of something like this - but ONLY for government. Government should have to abide by rules the rest of us do not. I don't really think the US Gov 'buying American' will make any kind of real difference, it's more about any excuse to chain government down and put them under the control of the people. Also, if there were going to be any sort of protectionist economic stimuli stuff, this has to be one of the more harmless ones.

What if these companies/corporations overprice items and services? What if the quality is not comaparable to others? This reeks of abuse and fraud. So, since corporations are people now they could contribute to a campaign which would favor thier company. This already happens I'm sure, what with lobbyist and campaign contributions. Not to mention it decreases competition in the market because government decides which companies or corporations to do business with. Again, probably those who line the pockets of government officals. I would also imagine the public service unions would back this idea right? you need to use the products or services of our union which forms the government or they go on strike and nothing gets done. I remember articles about the government purchasing $500 toilet seats.
http://www.publictechnology.net/sect...aste-part-ii-0

Bad idea...

[GunnyFreedom]

The government can be required for all members to wear pink tutus and sing every word they speak for all I care.

Some are saying that WE don;t get it, but I am rather convinced that THEY don't get it. The whole idea of American government is government lives by the rules we set, no mater how crazy or arbitrary, and we the people are the sovereigns and free.

The more you restrict government, the more free the people are. It's axiomatic. So I say the more rules, and the more ridiculous those rules are, that we lodge AGAINST GOVERNMENT, the better.

The full end of libertarian philosophy approaches technical anarchy with it's lack of government power and influence. Therefore I would say the MORE you constrict, limit, and control government, the MORE libertarian your society will become. Even if the rules you make the government follow are silly and ridiculous.

So those of you who are trying to say that making the government jump through hoops to get anything done....is not libertarian....I would tell you that the LESS powerful government is, the MORE libertarian society will be, right across the board.

Yes, I would even support making Congress wear shock collars that taze them whenever they punch the "yes" button. You can scream at me all you want how 'unlibertarian' that is, but I will be too busy enjoying the actual libertarian society that such a thing would help create to be bothered about stupid rules we lodge against the monsters who are destroying us.

I am in favor of MORE arbitrary and ridiculous rules that force government to behave, and the more the better! If you lust after power and want to get into government to rule over people, then you had by god better be comfortable with wearing a pink tutu at a press conference and singing your damn answers.