I was looking for a few used off-road motorcycles the other day on the internet as this is the year I teach my sons to ride motorcycles. I read, “Dirt Bike Wanted, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Suzuki……., Nothing Offshore”. At first, I laughed at this post but then it dawned upon me, these four Japanese brands have been become so ingrained in American lifestyle that their foreign origins are no longer thought of as foreign. I’m assuming this individual making the post was younger and has known no difference always understanding these four foreign mega brands are American, which they are not.
Maybe the same can be said in the automotive industry? Are Americans being conscious about the difference in the origins of the cars they buy and drive? Do the American people know American goods? If not, why? I think they should.
(Hybrid American/Japanese Flag, Purity Lost)
Americans are all pretty familiar with the Nutrition Facts panel affixed upon all packaged goods for human consumption. They tell us about the facts, what the product consists of on a nutritional level from the calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, etc. Even the calorie content being displayed upon the front display panel recently put into law allowing the public to get a quick snapshot as to the energy per serving to allow them to decide whether or not to purchase and consume.
Has anyone considered having a similar concept upon finished goods being sold in America? That is a “certified percentage” of the American Cost of Goods (ACOGS) derived from American minds, hands and materials being clearly stated upon the packaging of the product. The definition of ACOGS would have to be clearly defined. It could be the raw materials, design, components, fabrication and anything else deemed tangibly American.
This would mean that every product being sold in America would have to clearly state their American content according to the rules set by this concept. Similar to the calorie count on the front of a consumable food, the American Content Percentage would make people aware of the goods they purchase and can make purchasing decisions accordingly. American consumers will be influenced by this.
Companies that produce products with higher American Made percentages may have access to incentives from financing to corporate tax rate preferences. This could be calculated in a number of different ways from total volume dollars of American production to total percentage of goods made by that company in America according to the stated criteria. All with the intent of increasing American requirements benefiting American workers as well as satisfying the needs of the shareholder.
Ultimately America needs to know what Made in America is. I don’t believe there’s currently a gauge or a mechanism to allow this to happen. Unless there is a way to know what is Made in America and what is not people will continue to be naive. Naive as thinking Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki are American companies. This needs to change as quickly as possible.
DIO
dio@samco-mc.com
