Made in America?

I’ve seen it so many times before and today’s was no different. A well-meaning e-mail, it urged us to buy U.S.-made products. It’s a message I agree with and one I’ve supported over the years. After all, purchasing produce from local farmers and items made in America supports our citizens and stimulates our economy.

Then the e-mail took an unexpected turn.

The message focused on products that my company manufactures—-my American family-owned business born from two men who made their American dream come true. You see, I already buy local produce and clothes with “Made in the U.S.A.” tags. It’s as ingrained in me as baseball and apple pie. But this e-mail attacked the products that support my livelihood and that of our employees throughout the U.S.

The author urged people to buy products labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” because she found that they were cheaper than those imported and labeled “Made in China” and they promoted American business. On the surface, this seems like a reasonable assumption. The problem is that some companies, like mine, choose to manufacture products overseas to maintain the brand quality and technology their consumers expect at prices they’re willing to pay. Producing these same products on U.S. soil would mean an increase in production costs which would be passed onto consumers. Think about it. Would you honestly pay $20 for a t-shirt or an energy-efficient light bulb that you can get at Wal*Mart or Target today for $5 each?

The truth is that items made in the Far East might very well support American-based companies trying to balance staying afloat in an unsteady economy while providing low-cost products their consumers are willing to buy.

Another angle that rarely gets noticed is that something labeled as “Made in the U.S.A.” might be assembled here, but its components might be imported. Chances are that many American products are sourced one way or another from international businesses. If you’re a die-hard, ‘only-buy-American’ kind of consumer, you might want to do a little research before blacklisting certain products or companies based solely on their labels.

So, the next time you decide to buy something “Made in the U.S.A.” to show support for American businesses, consider that you just might be putting Americans out of work—and adding to the U.S. jobless rate, which burdens the system of unemployment payouts funded by you, our U.S. tax payers.

Top 5 Days that Changed the Course of US History

September 11th found me reminiscing about America before and after this tragedy. The top five days listed below are integral events which shaped the United States of today. Of course these selections are highly debatable, but I’m not out to write a history book. In my opinion these moments altered US culture, opinion, and history irrevocably.

#1) Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The men signing this document knew they were essentially signing their own death warrants by placing their names on his document. To challenge and revolt against King George III and England was treason. Thanks to their courage, determination, and foresight, the United States is one of the fortunate places in the world where our freedoms are protected.

• “…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…” – excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. To read the whole passage, click here.

#2) Assassination of Abraham Lincoln – April 14, 1865, Washington, DC
A simple man from simple beginnings, Honest Abe was a president of and for the people of America. In historical retrospect it’s really no surprise that he endorsed the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves. An unpopular decision with the southern states of the union, Lincoln’s brave move to secure freedom for all was repaid with his murder. Still, his courage in making such a difficult political decision resulted in the Civil War which emphasized the country’s factions and diverse opinions. Ultimately however, his first steps to grant all Americans freedom laid the foundation for civil rights.

#3) Woodstock – August 15 – 18, 1969, Bethel, New York
It was a time of change in America—political unrest and a clash between old thinking and new in social norms. Aside from the sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll which were taking hold, this time marked a mass movement toward questioning what was and what had to be. A decade of political events (Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, Malcolm X/Martin Luther King/John F. Kennedy/Robert F. Kennedy assassinations, Gay Rights Movement, Vietnam War, and more) culminated in this inevitable moment. With so much political strife, it’s no wonder people were craving peace and a summer of love, which of course brought its own ramifications. (Click here to see Jimi Hendrix’s famed take on the Star Spangled Banner.)

#4) Challenger Space Shuttle – January 28, 1986, Cape Canaveral, Florida
This is a childhood memory I’ll never forget. My class was tuned into the TV ready to watch the first teacher take off into space. The excitement in the room was almost tangible. Going into outer space was an adventure of enormous proportions. As the tragedy unfolded, we sat in silence--dumbfounded, confused, and terribly aware of what just happened on live TV. Our teacher turned off the set and led us in a Hail Mary. This event marked the first realization for me that mankind is fallible. Our best intentions, the smartest people, and choices we make are still at the mercy of fate. It was a scary moment and one that will always remind me that every adventure has its costs. As a dominating, international political presence, this tragedy showed the world that even the US had vulnerabilities.

#5) September 11, 2001, New York, NY
Like the assassination of President Kennedy for the generation before us, September 11th is a day generation X-ers / Y-ers (and everyone else) will never forget. Sitting in front of my computer in my company’s Philadelphia headquarters, it was just another late summer day—sunny, warm, and uncomfortable as I was eight months pregnant. Around 8:50 am a coworker ran into my office announcing that one of the twin towers was hit. Confusion and curiosity flooded our department. About ten minutes later, I headed to the cafeteria for a drink where a TV had been set up so we could follow the news. Drink in hand and eyes transfixed on the smoking tower #1, I watched in horror as Flight 175 crashed into tower 2. At that moment it became clear this wasn’t a random accident, but America was under attack. There was work to be done that day, but everyone was preoccupied by the twin towers, then the hit on the Pentagon, and finally Flight 93’s crash near Shanksville, PA.

Many of us knew people in New York and were trying to reach them, but the phone circuits were busy or dead. My thoughts were with my best friend who was working in downtown Manhattan and her boyfriend who worked in the tower plaza. (They were a couple of the lucky ones to escape that day.)

With the horrors unfolding in New York and Washington, Philadelphia was on lockdown. It’s the birthplace of the US and a major hub for business on the east coast; we were scared that we were next. As the day’s tragedies faded into the days and weeks following, America changed. Innocence was lost in this new wave of terrorism on our home turf. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents stood united, side-by-side. Our ideological differences took a back seat to the protection of our ideals of democracy and freedom.

Terrorists can never destroy our conviction “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our country protects these rights. Our soldiers fight to guarantee these rights for us. It’s the reason why my family, like so many others before us, wanted to come here. The US was and is a land of opportunity and freedom—two vital components of life that so many around the world lack.

Although the political-socio-economic repercussions from this day will be felt for decades, we are still united in our stance against extremist groups who will do whatever it takes to destroy our freedoms. Like their own beliefs, ours are so ingrained in us that we will fight for our rights no matter what.

Where were you on September 11th?

With a history spanning over 234 years, the United States’ rich past is filled with many significant events like the 1849 gold rush, the Wright Brothers, Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Rights Movement, invention of the atomic bomb, Apollo 11 Moonwalk, Industrial Revolution, Wall Street Crash of 1929, Attack on Pearl Harbor, the first black president, and so much more. Like all histories, it’s filled with good and bad and everything in between, but these events created the world, country, and people we are today.

Sources:

The links contained in this article are provided as a means to access additional information. They do not represent an endorsement of these sites or other contents contained therein.

• Declaration of Independence
• Lincoln History
• Lincoln Photo
• Woodstock
• Jimi Hendrix Photo
• Challenger History
• Challenger Photo
• September 11th Photo

The Problem with Healthcare

Who am I kidding? Healthcare is completely broken. Without a major overhaul, the fixes that the president presents and congress negotiates are merely band-aids on a fatally hemorrhaging wound. However, there is one healthcare problem which wouldn’t take an act of God to fix. It’s actually a rather simple issue to handle if anyone cared enough to do so.

What’s broken? Customer service.

Somewhere between seeing countless patients, running around a hospital, and haggling with insurance companies, medical office personnel have forgotten that every patient is also a customer.

We no longer have to fear being black listed in the medical community for stating our opinions a la Elaine from Seinfeld. Thanks to the internet and sites like Angie’s list, we can share our experiences anonymously and hopefully save other people from horrible encounters with difficult doctors and staff.

Due to a virus that circulated through my family this summer, I spent more time in doctors’ offices in the past two months for sick visits than I have over the past two decades. What we saw and experienced:

• Staff shopping on the internet
• Staff naming and discussing patient health issues in the patient’s absence
• Staff eating while speaking to patients over the phone and getting upset when they had to repeat themselves
• Staff speaking disrespectfully and rudely to patients
• Describing severe symptoms and being told the doctor’s earliest appointment is two days later
• Staff’s tone and choice of words were belittling.
• Doctors telling us what we’re feeling and not hearing what we’re saying
• Doctors not telling us our diagnosis, just prescribing medication without offering alternative options or discussing what we can do to ease our symptoms
• Being misdiagnosed
• Practices not having contingency plans to see sick patients when primary doctors are on vacation

I don’t care if the office staff is having a bad day or if the doctor is overbooked. Yes, they are real considerations, but when patients are seriously ill, they need attention. This is why we have doctors. It’s not like we’re at the doctor’s office every week. Most of us avoid the place like the plague. And, since our visits are so infrequent, if we happen to catch the medical staff on a bad day, chances are that impression will taint our overall opinion of the entire medical practice.

The repercussions? Word of mouth marketing spreads like wildfire. Most of us will likely vent about our bad experiences to our closest friends who will remember our stories. And, when they’re looking for new doctors, they’ll ask us about our “bad” doctors to make sure they don’t sign up with them. They in turn tell others. Based on personal experience, this is especially true when it comes to pediatrics.

I’m sure dealing with cranky people who are sick all day can wear on even the toughest employees in the medical field. However, showing an ounce of care and concern can go a long way and dial back the cranky scale on anyone. The fact is that medical practices are businesses. They provide services and care to their customers. The thing they often forget is the choice they make to be a Wal-Mart or Saks 5th Avenue in the medical field. What kind of quality healthcare do you want?

It’s important to note that not everyone we encountered was mean or inconsiderate. In fact, two bright spots were a nurse and lab technician whose bedside manners were thoughtful and kind despite the revolving door of patients circling around them.

A little professionalism and kindness can go a long way. Perhaps it’s something we should all keep in mind no matter where we work or what we do.

Check out what others are saying about your doctors:
http://www.doctor-report.net/
http://www.physicianreports.com/?yaid=pr
http://www.angieslist.com/angieslist/

Image: Stethoscope