Buying American has been on the minds of shoppers and advertisers for about a decade now.  Following September 11, 2001, the pro-America sentiment was everywhere.  Flags flew from houses on every block, and the urge to buy from local shops and support America was present almost everywhere you looked. This intense patriotism has fallen off slightly since then, but the incentives to "Buy American" are still as important as ever.

Here are three reasons to Buy American:

1. It helps the domestic economy – The "Made in China" sticker is a bad sign for our economy. Every time consumers pick up another doll or chair made in China, our dollars are shipped back to a foreign economy, while ours continues to flounder.  By buying American products, from local stores and shops, we can bolster our economic landscape and our local business leaders.
2. Higher quality – Many nation's choose to ignore basic safety standards and regulations during manufacturing and product creation.  This results in a low level of safety and reliability in goods produced overseas. Products from in American factories and shops must comply with a bevy of rules and high standards.  This results in plenty of goods withstanding the test of time and serving your family for years, rather than months, like goods from other countries.
3. Convenience – You can find goods and services from all over the world, if you shop online. Many prices are slashed due to their availability on the internet, but what if you have a problem with the purchase? If you want to return it, can you acquire a replacement item in an exceptionable amount of time? Probably not. When you buy American, you can get high standard goods at your local convenience store.

We have given away too much of our economy in search of efficiency and higher margins. At this time in our country's economic climate, we need to reassess our buying habits and look down your block before you look on Google.