‘Buy American’ the solution

The West Coast shipping slowdown exposed a major vulnerability in our current economy. We heard from the business community that the dispute prevented supplies from reaching store shelves and manufacturing facilities. Some business owners complained that further delay might have forced them to go out of business.

I have always been a supporter of “Buy American,” therefore I am not sympathetic to their plea. It was their business decision to deal in foreign-made goods. If they were marketing products made on this continent instead of in the Far East, then their business would not be affected by the risks of foreign trade.

The federal government should not have been asked to end this impasse. Instead, the country would have been better if the market forces were allowed to settle the situation.

George Clark

Deer Park