HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Is Your iPod Unpatriotic? Why America Shouldn't "Buy American"

Views:935
@ReasonVids

Is your iPod unpatriotic?

Its 451 parts are made in dozens of nations, and creating the little doodads employs thousands of foreigners. Final assembly is done in China-a country that right-wingers and left-wingers alike fear is an economic threat to the U.S.

As the recession worsens, maybe patriotic Americans should be smashing foreign-made iPods in protest. Or at least hiring bikini-clad American women to do the job, which is exactly what Reason.tv did. Our patriotic, sledgehammer-wielding bikini bandits headed to California's Venice Beach to smash some foreign-made iPods to make a political statement about saving American jobs.

Maybe the United Steelworkers Union (USW), one of the biggest "Buy American" backers would like to hire these patriotic ladies for their next rally.

"Every other nation during this economic downturn is directing their stimulus money inward," thunders USW's Billy Thompson at a rally in West Virginia. "Now if they can do it, why in the hell can't we?"

Actually, we are. President Obama's $800 billion stimulus package came equipped with a "Buy American" provision, and more than 500 state and local governments have signed "buy American" resolutions. And that may be just the beginning of the protectionist push.

Reason.tv went to a Washington, D.C. event where business owners and activists learned how to lobby for more protectionist laws. "If you want to sell it here, build it here," says one participant who referrs to those who ignore the "buy American" imperative as "uneducated, ignorant people."

And shouldn't we be patriotic purchasers? That's what car ads, draped with Old Glory and heartland visuals, suggest. What could be more patriotic than buying a Jeep Patriot? With American automakers hurting so badly, that's got to help America.

"That's nonsense," says George Mason University economist-and Cafe Hayek blogger-Donald Boudreaux.

"The Jeep Patriot, despite it's name is actually less American than some Toyota products. It's literally impossible-at least in any practical sense-to buy American.'"

Boudreaux argues that Americans should buy whatever products they choose; neither guilt nor laws should push them to buy American. "The thing that is most distinctively American is freedom. To insist that Americans should not be free to buy good from foreigners that's very anti-American."

And what about your iPod?

Even though plenty of foreigners have jobs thanks to it, so do 14,000 Americans whose duties include designing and marketing the little buggers. So the iPod is a product of America and the world, and these days that describes nearly all the items we buy.

Welcome to the iPod economy, where just about everything is made everywhere.

After hearing the whole story, Reason.tv's bikini bandits decided to put down their protectionist sledgehammers. Will America's people, pundits, and politicians follow suit?

"Is Your iPod Unpatriotic?" is written and produced by Ted Balaker and hosted by Nick Gillespie. Field producer is Hawk Jensen and director of photography is Alex Manning.

Associate Producers are Meredith Bragg, Paul Detrick, and Dan Hayes, with additional photography provided by Nathan Chaffetz and Dan Haas.

And introducing reason.tv's Bikini Bandits: Alexandra Fulton, Chuki Lord, and Amber Waddick.

For iPod, HD, and audio versions, go to http://reason.tv/video/show/834.html

bikini bandits
,
ipod
,
apple
,
steve jobs
,
america
,
unpatriotic
,
barack obama
,
reason.tv
,
foreign
,
made in america
,
buy american
,
trade
,
globalization
,
nick gillespie
,
donald boudreaux
,
steel
,
workers
    Thumbnail for Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie on why the Obama Honeymoon is Over1:28
    Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie on why the Obama Honeymoon is Over
    ReasonVids
    974 views
    Thumbnail for How Do Democrats Want to Pay For Free College, Paid Leave, Expanding Social Security?4:45
    How Do Democrats Want to Pay For Free College, Paid Leave, Expanding Social Security?
    ReasonVids
    863 views
    Thumbnail for When Democrats Loved Deregulation4:54
    When Democrats Loved Deregulation
    ReasonVids
    919 views
    Thumbnail for Philly Tour Guides Return to Federal Court1:35
    Philly Tour Guides Return to Federal Court
    IJvids
    935 views
    Thumbnail for Why Ventura Residents Were Kept From Voting on Pension Reform in the Midterm Elections11:16
    Why Ventura Residents Were Kept From Voting on Pension Reform in the Midterm Elections
    ReasonVids
    1010 views
    Thumbnail for The Medical Conflict of Interest Mania: Dr. Thomas Stossel on Physician Regulation19:20
    The Medical Conflict of Interest Mania: Dr. Thomas Stossel on Physician Regulation
    ReasonVids
    1001 views
    Thumbnail for The Flaw of Averages: Sam L. Savage On Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty4:31
    The Flaw of Averages: Sam L. Savage On Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty
    ReasonVids
    867 views
    Thumbnail for California Tried to Seize Millions of This Inventor’s Fortune. He Fought Back. And Won.7:07
    California Tried to Seize Millions of This Inventor’s Fortune. He Fought Back. And Won.
    ReasonVids
    937 views
    Thumbnail for Are Your Kids Too Fragile? How to Make the Next Generation More Resilient.25:23
    Are Your Kids Too Fragile? How to Make the Next Generation More Resilient.
    ReasonVids
    811 views
    Thumbnail for Reason.tv's Nanny of the Month For January 2010 (Get Angry, Snoop Dogg!)1:06
    Reason.tv's Nanny of the Month For January 2010 (Get Angry, Snoop Dogg!)
    ReasonVids
    879 views
    Thumbnail for Common Core: Why It Isn't the Solution Reformers are Searching For16:04
    Common Core: Why It Isn't the Solution Reformers are Searching For
    ReasonVids
    812 views
    Thumbnail for Paul Joseph Watson Says Western Civilization Is Dying8:06
    Paul Joseph Watson Says Western Civilization Is Dying
    AmericanRenaissance
    1501 views
    Thumbnail for Dilbert's Scott Adams Explains How He Knew Trump Would 'Win Bigly'1:04:34
    Dilbert's Scott Adams Explains How He Knew Trump Would 'Win Bigly'
    ReasonVids
    788 views
    Thumbnail for Gandhi, Mandela, and...Mailmen? Postal Workers Wage Hunger Strike "for Justice"2:52
    Gandhi, Mandela, and...Mailmen? Postal Workers Wage Hunger Strike "for Justice"
    ReasonVids
    972 views
    Thumbnail for Razorbill0:10
    Razorbill
    bestofupgoat
    183 views
    Thumbnail for The Best and Worst Christmas Films (Libertarian Edition)3:33
    The Best and Worst Christmas Films (Libertarian Edition)
    ReasonVids
    961 views
    Thumbnail for Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary Explains Donald Trump's Success34:49
    Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary Explains Donald Trump's Success
    ReasonVids
    1009 views
    Thumbnail for Chris Hedges at Flood Wall Street: "Capitalism Exploits Humans"12:06
    Chris Hedges at Flood Wall Street: "Capitalism Exploits Humans"
    ReasonVids
    860 views
    Thumbnail for A deer eating a rabbit0:23
    A deer eating a rabbit
    AOUisgay
    309 views
    Thumbnail for Game of Thrones' Economics: Auburn University's Matthew McCaffrey says it's not all Fantasy5:22
    Game of Thrones' Economics: Auburn University's Matthew McCaffrey says it's not all Fantasy
    ReasonVids
    880 views
    Thumbnail for Sydney Preist Stabbed on Livestream0:09
    Sydney Preist Stabbed on Livestream
    bestofupgoat
    279 views
    Thumbnail for Deleting her0:06
    Deleting her
    AmericanMuskrat
    155 views
    Thumbnail for Larry King on Ferguson Policing... and Nudity1:24
    Larry King on Ferguson Policing... and Nudity
    ReasonVids
    906 views
    Thumbnail for Banning Soda, Lessons from Wisconsin, & Obama the Pot Smoker7:37
    Banning Soda, Lessons from Wisconsin, & Obama the Pot Smoker
    ReasonVids
    955 views
    Thumbnail for The 5 Best Arguments Against Immigration—and Why They're WRONG4:16
    The 5 Best Arguments Against Immigration—and Why They're WRONG
    ReasonVids
    910 views

points

Permalink
Reply
bikini bandits
,
ipod
,
apple
,
steve jobs
,
america
,
unpatriotic
,
barack obama
,
reason.tv
,
foreign
,
made in america
,
buy american
,
trade
,
globalization
,
nick gillespie
,
donald boudreaux
,
steel
,
workers
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle