Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

• martyirish

  

  Hi all,
  I got this e-mail this morning and thought it was fantastic.
  what a great idea.:thumbup:
  
  Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
  
  As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- Merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.
  This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
  
  Yes there is!
  
  It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
  Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
  
  Maybe a gym membership? Or a wonderful yoga class? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
  
  Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
  
  Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
  
  There are bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks
  This isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
  
  How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
  
  Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
  
  My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
  
  OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
  
  Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater?
  
  Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
  
  Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
  
  You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about USA and encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
  
  Let's make THIS the new American Christmas tradition.
  
  Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.
  
  This is a revolution of caring about each other. Let's celebrate the birth of Christ and help each other!
• DeadliestWarrior34

  

  Nah, I'm not feeling it
• tk421

  

  uh huh, so everyone will be giving up their phones/Ipads/Iphones/dvd players/TVs/computers? Yeah, right. Not buying it either.
• DeadliestWarrior34

  

  You're not going to be able to live off of gym memberships and cleaning ladies forever
• tk421

  

  yeah, just what we need for our struggling economy. Everyone go out and buy a gym membership, that'll put people back to work.
• Heretic

  

  DeadliestWarrior34;963792 wrote:You're not going to be able to live off of gym memberships and cleaning ladies forever

  What if the cleaning lady is a cute illegal, so you can basically say that part of her job is to pleasure you whenever you want...or you're calling the gubment to have them ship her back to where she came from.
  
  That's what I want for Xmas!!!
• SportsAndLady

  

  This is so retarded
• DeadliestWarrior34

  

  Heretic;963805 wrote:What if the cleaning lady is a cute illegal, so you can basically say that part of her job is to pleasure you whenever you want...or you're calling the gubment to have them ship her back to where she came from.
  
  That's what I want for Xmas!!!

  Touche
• Mulva

  

  I'm going to try to order a gift certificate from a barbershop in China.
• martyirish

  

  you don't have to do exactly what this says
  just giving you examples
  or what about sites like this
  
  http://madeinusaforever.com/
  
  http://www.ibuyusmade.com/home/
  
  http://made-in.us.com/
  
  http://www.madeinusa.com/
  
  http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
• tk421

  

  OMG! I've finally found it. We can all buy this set of 8 kitchen tools made in the good old USA for the completely reasonable price of only $45, and then the terrorists won't win. Man, I'm glad I saw that site. Everyone remember to order your set for Christmas.
  
  http://madeinusaforever.com/setofsekitom.html
• TBone14

  

  This is dumb. I like getting people stuff they actually want.
  
  People are going to get their haircut whether I pay for them to get it cut or they do. Just depends on who spends the money. People are going to change their oil whether or not I buy them a gift certificate to do it or not. So this isn't actually putting money into the economy because it is going to get spent no matter what.
  
  Don't listen to this nonsense. Christmas is a time to ask for and get stuff that you wouldn't buy for yourself during the year. Not a time to exchange oil changes and haircuts.
  
  I do support this: If you are going to buy gift cards for restaurants, I will usually buy them for locally owned places as opposed to the TGIFriday's and Red Lobster's of the world.
• sleeper

  

  This buy American crap is stupid. I'll buy American if the price and quality are up to par with that of their foreign competitors. Right now, for the most part, foreigners are making cheaper programs at or above the quality of overpriced union labor in America. When the unions fall, then wages will fall, allowing USA made products to be more competitive in a global marketplace.
• like_that

  

  tl;dr
• LJ

  

  Heretic;963805 wrote:What if the cleaning lady is a cute illegal, so you can basically say that part of her job is to pleasure you whenever you want...or you're calling the gubment to have them ship her back to where she came from.
  
  That's what I want for Xmas!!!

  But then you aren't buying American
• ts1227

  

  like_that;963972 wrote:tl;dr

  
  This
• BigYtownRed

  Wow Marty you got slammed on this one. I thought you would get a little better response. Typical Americans
• power i

  

  I totally see the point. It's a good thought, but obviously too many people are too greedy for it to work.
• Iliketurtles

  

  Or maybe people could just celebrate it "Christmas" for what its supposed to be about and celebrate "Christ" and not give anyone anything. Maybe parents who are "Christians" and celebrate "Christmas" won't lie to their kids and tell them there is such a thing as Santa Claus. Nah none of that will ever happen.
• Al Bundy

  Just give a donation in someone's name to the Human Fund.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJvbZZWt9g4
• Sonofanump

  I voted for Cletus.
• se-alum

  

  sleeper;963925 wrote:This buy American crap is stupid. I'll buy American if the price and quality are up to par with that of their foreign competitors. Right now, for the most part, foreigners are making cheaper programs at or above the quality of overpriced union labor in America. When the unions fall, then wages will fall, allowing USA made products to be more competitive in a global marketplace.

  No way dude, unions are great, they make everything better!!
• LJ

  

  Al Bundy;964493 wrote:Just give a donation in someone's name to the Human Fund.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJvbZZWt9g4

  I donated $1,000 for every member of this website....
  
  
  Don't try to call and verify though, very strict privacy laws
• dlazz

  Sonofanump;964494 wrote:I voted for Cletus.

  I rarely LOL at posts, but this did it for me.
  
  Reps.
• dwccrew

  

  martyirish;963711 wrote:Hi all,
  I got this e-mail this morning and thought it was fantastic.
  what a great idea.:thumbup:
  
  Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
  
  As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- Merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.
  This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
  
  Yes there is!
  
  It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
  Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

  
  
  Salon supplies that are produced by foreign countries, you are still supporting foreign economies.
  
  

  Maybe a gym membership? Or a wonderful yoga class? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

  
  
  Using gym equipment and supplies built/made in foreign countries. Still supporting foreign economies.
  

  Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

  
  
  Using supplies made in foreign countries. Cleaning their foreign made (or parts from foreign) countries. Still supporting foreign economies.
  

  Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

  
  
  Mowing lawns with foreign made lawnmowers, using gas that is supporting foreign economies.
  

  There are bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks
  This isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

  
  
  You may have got one right, but even these restaurants use a lot of foreign produced products. Tables, chairs, cash registers, appliances, silverware, plates, etc.
  

  How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

  
  
  Oil imported from a foreign country.
  

  Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

  
  
  Many cleaning companies use foreigners, often illegals.
  

  My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

  
  
  You mean the computers that are built in foreign countries. Will he replace the parts with products made in foreign countries also?
  

  OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

  
  
  Sure they do, but how rare are they to come by?
  

  Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater?

  
  
  What if the owner/operator is a foreign individual. Where I live there is many restaurants owned by middle eastern and asian people.
  

  Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
  
  Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

  
  
  These are just stupid ideas and don't help generate much for the economy on a macro level.
  

  You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about USA and encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
  
  Let's make THISthe new American Christmas tradition.

  
  
  As others have stated, this isn't going to generate any new money into the American economy as these are things that people would buy anyway. The point of my post isn't to point out that most everything is made in other countries (which it is) but to point out that the economy is a global economy. People need to understand and accept this. Once they do, that is when unions will cease to exist, wages will fall to where they should be and Americans will go back to work.
  
  Sorry, but the days of getting paid $30/hourly to turn a screw are over. All the auto companies have realized it (many new hires make $14/hourly doing the same job that used to make $30/hourly), now the rest of the country needs to.
  

  Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.
  
  This is a revolution of caring about each other. Let's celebrate the birth of Christ and help each other!

  I wouldn't forward that idiocy to anyone, but I'm sure someone will forward it to me. It is nice gestures to help others, but it wouldn't do shit for our economy.