Why buy American made products and services? In an age of NAFTA, Toyota, Walmart, and outsourcing and a time when money is tight, many people are asking why they shouldn’t just buy the cheapest product regardless of its country of origin. Some economists and news commentators have marshaled arguments in favor of this position. Advocates of buying U.S. made products have responded with a number of strong counter-arguments for shopping at home. Their reasons range from pragmatism to patriotism to legal and moral arguments.

Social Security is one of the most important, expensive, and controversial topics in American economic and political discussion. It pays the bills of 40 percent of Americans over 65. It is the biggest expense in the federal budget, costing $712.5 billion in 2010 and accounting for 20.8% of government expenditures. At the present rate under current policy, the government’s ability to pay for Social Security will expire between 2023 and 2036.
Because of Social Security’s importance to each individual and to America as a whole, it’s in the interest of every voter to be well-informed about it.

How exchange rates affect American manufacturing is a issue of vital importance to the U.S. economy and U.S.-Chinese relations. Policymakers have stated that revitalizing the American manufacturing industry is the key to beating America’s trade deficit. Inhibiting this is the fact that after 110 years as the world’s leading manufacturer, America fell behind China in 2010. American manufacturers and labor unions have charged that the Chinese government’s policy on exchange rates makes it impossible for American companies to compete in China, while forcing American workers to compete with cheap Chinese labor and goods.