This might be considered a stunt. This might even be considered silly. However, I feel that most people need a graphical example of just what is and more importantly what
isn't Made in America anymore...
More below the fold.
Okay, here's my idea:
The DNC and the UAW / Teamsters etc. should collectively buy a plot of land in middle America somewhere (Kansas, for example) and build two identical houses on it side by side.
THEN...
One house becomes the 1956 House, and one house becomes the 2006 House.
The trick to both houses is that they can only be furnished and/or outfitted with items that are manufactured or assembled in the USA.
Both houses would obviously be built here, since they can't manufacture houses in China for export to the USA. At least not yet.
We can also assume that each house would have carpeting, tile, paint, etc. but this is where it gets interesting:
Let's take the kitchen for example. In 1956, the following items were manufactured in the USA:
>Stove
>Refrigerator
>Toaster
>Blender
>Waffle Iron
>Coffee Pot
>Pots and Pans
Then, you take into account how much each item costs, adjusted of course for inflation into 2006 dollars. I would also like to see the average wage earned by the American worker who assembled said toaster, etc.
Now, we move onto the 2006 house, and we try to re-create the exact same applicances and conveniences, but the criteria remains the same: All items must be made in the USA.
With the possible exception of the stove and/or refrigerator, I think you'd be looking at one empty house. A house without a television, to be sure.
I would love to see Chairman Dean holding a press conference in between these two houses, and graphically illustrate just where exactly our manufacturing base (and it's good-paying Union jobs) has gone.
Then, Habitat for Humanity could donate both houses to needy families.
Am I crazy? Would this even work?
PS - Thanks for bearing with me...this was all off the top of my head in a brief moment of clarity.