Buy American, help our country

I read the letters on the "Fence Post" quite often, in order to get a glimpse of other readers' feelings on issues facing our community and nation. Recently I've been disappointed, a little insulted and confused by some of the letters that I've read.

I found myself compelled to write after reading a letter calling for lower taxes on the wealthy so that they can build "a pretentious mansion." The logic being that a rich individual can support an entire community by building a huge home and adding fantastic luxury items like yachts. I would rather see the tradesmen that were mentioned working on homes (plural) for families.

My hope is that working people can earn a good living and build homes for themselves, others, and support local businesses. I see letters calling for outrage over protests in other countries regarding U.S. food, encouraging people to boycott other country's products. I agree that as consumers we can send messages to businesses through our buying habits, but the same letter comes to the defense of Wal-Mart as a good U.S. company. I question the validity of that statement.

While Wal-Mart may have a fine history of making money, I'm offended by their treatment of their workers and the hierarchy of their business model that puts profits so far above the well-being of their workforce. I'm not a great historian or economist, but it seems to me that our country was at its greatest when we made things and sold them to other countries. When people could get a job at a factory or company and receive a decent wage and health care benefits.

I would encourage people to seek out "American Made" products. The cost of these products is typically higher, but if the community and nation as a whole invests in itself, then we will become more dependent on each other than the benevolence of the few rich individuals building "pretentious mansions" and "giant yachts."

Joshua Sajtar

Union tradesman

Elgin