"The price I paid for the "made in America tool" was higher but so was the quality."
But it gets to the point where you can't even afford to buy an American-made product, so you have to buy the cheaper overseas product or go without it. Such is the case I think with much of American-made furniture. Much higher quality and better materials, but not within everyone's budget.
Save up for and buy the American made product. You'll save money in the long run by not having to replace it every few months.
I have very little symapthy. In our house, we still have cheap kit furniture in some rooms. We buy nothing on credit and pay only cash for furniture. However, when we do buy it, we go for quality. Most Americans, used to living in houses packed with "toys" and decorated well beyond their true means, would probably think we were quaint or even poor, even though we clear more than 90% of the people in this country.