Might want to take your shoes of for this one:
"A local push for military to wear US sneakers" by Theo Emery, Globe Staff / May 6, 2011
WASHINGTON — Since World War II, US military forces have worn American-made apparel from their helmets down to their socks. Every stitch, every yard of camouflage, every combat boot is supposed to come from a US factory.
War is about the only thing we make anymore.
But not their sneakers....
That exception rankles members of Congress from New England because the only major company still manufacturing athletic shoes in the United States is Boston-based New Balance....
Of course, they didn't care when all the other sneaker companies moved overseas and took the jobs with them. Heck, Congress gave them tax breaks to do it.
“The reality is that we have American soldiers fighting in our behalf, who represent this country with great pride, dignity and professionalism, and I think are proud to wear American-made products,’’ said Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. About 650 New Balance employees work on research and development as well as manufacturing in her district....
Members of Congress from New England have been pressing the Pentagon to explain why the department no longer procures athletic shoes the way it does boots, dress shoes, and all other apparel....
This is what Congress is concerned about, huh? No wonder this country is in so much trouble.
The debate raises questions about sourcing and costs in a global economy, say specialists. Robert Scott, an economist with the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute, supports the Berry Amendment. But athletic shoes are a highly personal choice for soldiers, he said, and globalization of the industry leaves fewer homegrown options to choose from.
And not just in sneakers.
“The problem is that there is a limited set of choices. I can understand that the Pentagon wants to give soldiers choices on footwear. This is a particularly difficult case because we are more dependent on imports in footwear than in most other industries,’’ he said....
We actually seem dependent on imports period, no matter what the product.
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Related: War Looter's Wednesday: Immigrants Matter Most
Hey, as long as they are made in AmeriKa who cares if they are made by illegal immigrants?
