Posted on 12/02/2016 8:28:34 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The argument that I make below against the economic case for “buying local” has almost certainly been made by others – perhaps, in some variety, even by me. So I here claim no originality. Still….
Many advocates of “buying local” insist that buying local is good for the local economy and, hence, economically good for each person in the local economy. For a number of reasons, the economics on which the “buy local” movement rests is remarkably weak. (Just as it is a sure sign that someone has no sound grasp of economics if he or she believes that protectionism is a source of national economic prosperity, an even surer sign that someone has no sound grasp of economics is that person’s belief that buying local is a source of local economic prosperity.)
So to everyone who believes that buying local enriches local people, I pose a question: Do you also believe that, say, “buying white” would enrich white people? According to the logic of “buying local,” buying white” should enrich white people no less than “buying local” is said to enrich local people. Other than occasionally saving on the cost of one input – namely, transportation – every argument made for “buying local” seems to apply to “buying white.” Keeping the money in the white community would ensure that this money doesn’t drain, or spill, out into other communities such as the black community, the Asian community, and the Hispanic community. Demand for white-made goods and services would be better ensured! And whites could take pride in helping each other to better secure a bright economic today and tomorrow for their white selves and their white children!
And what’s true for whites is true for other groups! “Buy black” will – if the logic of “buy local” is sound – enrich the black community. Blacks so enlightened as to understand the economic benefits for blacks of “buying black” must surely join with the sages in the Ku Klux Klan in regarding the economic integration of whites and blacks as an economic calamity rather than as a blessing.
So, too, of course for other ethnic groups! “Buy Asian!” “Buy Hispanic!” “Buy Native American!”
Alternatively, what about “Buy straight!” Would the economic fortunes of heterosexual people be raised if all heterosexuals successfully commit to engage in commerce only with each other and not with those in the LGBT community? If “buy local” enthusiasts are correct, the answer seems to be ‘yes.’
And so, of course, “Buy gay!” “Buy lesbian!” “Buy bisexual!” and “Buy transgendered!” would also be sound guides to economic prosperity for these people.
Or, here’s yet another way to slice and dice the relevant community: What about “Buy tall!” Would tall people – say, all men more than 6 feet tall and all women more than 5’9″ – enrich themselves buy buying only from each other? Same question for short people.
Or what about “Buy T!” Would all people whose last names begin with the letter “T” enrich themselves economically if they trade only with each other and not with those whose last names begin with letters other than “T”?
…..
I oughtn’t need to say so – but I will – that I find it to be both ethically repulsive and economically insane to endorse any such movement as “Buy white” or “Buy straight!” or “Buy T!” Most people (I suspect) naturally understand that a “Buy T” movement would make those “T”s who adhere to it poorer, not richer. Likewise with such absurdities as “Buy white” and “Buy straight” and “Buy tall!”
Yet insert the word “local” behind the word “Buy” and many people fall for the crazy notion that those who “Buy local” will make themselves and their local communities economically richer.
Nuts. No one should buy it.
Moot point for me. Many items, I literally CAN’T buy locally. Not anymore.
I don’t see where trying to help out your local main street merchants is tantamount to racism.
Faulty reasoning on the part of the author. The out-stretch of his argument is globalism, that that we should want to provide a benefit equally to everyone worldwide as much as we would like to benefit our own locality. Preferring the benefit of our own community and neighbors is not the same as reckoning other communities inferior. Just a very poorly thought out article in that respect.
“Buying local” for agriculture doesn’t work in California anymore—not with water restrictions forcing way too many farms to shut down. There is a real possibility that the Central Valley south of Modesto may start turning back into a desert again at the rate the water restrictions are going.
Besides, why wouldn’t we want to support businesses that agree with us or have a vested interest in our beliefs? Is, for instance, saying “I buy from people at my church if I can” tantamount or in any way comparable to racism, sexism, or the latest “ism” of the day? Of course not. Silly article.
His analogy doesn’t make sense to me. Local sales keeps local businesses and their property taxes in the area. Local business owners also donate to community causes and pay propert taxes on their residence as well.
Local vs skin color or sexual orientation isn’t analogous at all.
A town with empty buildings that used to house businesses wouldn’t be better for its residents. It’s possible that I completely missed his point, however, and I’m sure I’ll stand corrected.
I think the guilt trip cr@p is what people resent. I know I do. If locals can compete, great. They’ll get my biz. If not, then someone else will.
One big reason why it makes sense to "buy local" is that you do business with people who are more likely to do business with you.
If I'm a lawyer or accountant with a local office in a small town, I don't really care if the Home Depot located 10 miles (or even ten blocks) away offers a better deal on tools or building materials. I would rather go to the local hardware store for those things because Home Depot is never going to hire me for legal or accounting work.
Was in a restaurant yesterday. Big signs on the wall touting that the produce was all bought locally. Beautiful pictures of farmland and the produce from about 8 towns. Of course, none of these “local” farms were from my town or even from my state.
I always wonder about the “farmers markets” with organic produce in my area. Supposedly the produce is all from local sources as well. I suspect that much of it has been purchased locally from some of the Mexican stores that have really low prices, and then the labels removed for resale, and the produce magically transformed into “organic” produce.
I’ve had a stand at our local small town Farmer’s Market, all of the produce is grown in the gardens of the sellers and the baked goods are baked in the kitchens of the sellers.
Perhaps people cheat and lie in big cities, but in getting to know other vendors I know they were selling their own produce and products.
That was Sam Walton’s basic premise ... American Made ... nothing in a Wal*Mart was manufactured outside the USA. Wonder what he would think now.
Buy stuff from people you’ll never even know on the other side of the world! Yeah, that’s the ticket. Send your dollars out of the country. Don’t support domestic production of anything you buy. Buy Chinese, that’s the way to a healthy US economy and personal financial stability.
But on the flip side to your argument, Home Depot does provide for a portion of my employment. I work for a major home depot vendor,
I understand. It’s a whole different story if you aren’t self-employed, but the key point is that it makes a lot of sense to do business with prospective customers.
This message brought to you by the multinational business chamber of commerce.
Because according to them, Americans are too lazy and stupid to make or grow things for themselves. And if they did, they refuse to work for slave wages and live in slums under fascist rule.
I think if one is in a small town, the odds are better that the produce is actually grown locally. Harder to fake it. I live in the desert. There are people who are successful gardeners. But it is tough growing stuff here. That is why the stores and restaurants get their produce from out of state and why I am skeptical about local farmers markets.
The local oranges and olive oil from Pennsylvania ain’t so good in quality or existence.
That’s exactly how I feel about it. Our local community has been blitzing Facebook for the last couple of months through members of the community, some of whom are my friends so the blitzkrieg ends up on my feed. It’s damn near incessant and feels like a cult. There is constant guilt-tripping for doing what’s best for your family instead of doing what’s best for the shop owners’ families.
What they don’t realize is that we have a finite amount of cash to spend on goods. We can get less by shopping local due to higher prices at local stores, or we can get more by stopping at the stores in the next town on our way home from work. I’m sorry, but if a can of chili costs $1.00 at Fred Meyer and that exact same can costs $1.89 at mom-and-pop, my choice is made for me.
Right. Same with bananas here in New Jersey. :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.