Black Friday. We hear about that so much. Reports are that consumer spending was up a few percent over last year. That's good news, but for who? Do Mom and Pop downtown report their sales to the keeper of the statistics? I doubt it. The unfortunate fact is that the winners during most of Christmas shopping are the retailers of clothing, toys and electronics. Few if any, are made in America. Much goes to China who in turn lends it back to some government bureaucrat so we can have such a high standard of living and think that we are a wealthy country to boot.

How to spend like a patriot? Take most electronics off the list. I think the last American television was Zenith. If you want to buy something practical, buy that furnace and air conditioner that you need from your hometown heating contractor. Most of that equipment is still made in the USA but some air conditioning components are being made in Mexican factories. If your furnace is good yet, consider a humidifier, high efficiency air cleaner or HRV (heat recovery ventilator). Many of those are made in Madison. Ask your dealer where his brands are made.

Consider some remodeling in the plumbing and electrical department. Buy that water saving toilet, but beware that foreign brands are creeping into the market. I was quoted all Japanese fixtures for a remodel job. Good stuff but doesn't help the economy as much as something made in the USA or better yet in Wisconsin.

Put the shovel in the garage and buy a snowblower. There are some brands made in Wisconsin. Try to get a Wisconsin made engine on whatever brand you buy.

Then there is the prestige of a new car in the driveway. This gets confusing, such as the Toyota Sienna minivan that I drive for work which is made in Indiana near one of our stores. But buying a GM, Ford or Chrysler brand car/truck that is also made in American will keep more of your money here. Yes, I know there is controversy about how much the factory workers make per hour including benefits, but so much of a car or truck is NOT made at the factory but by a vendor company where the workers might not have such generous pay and benefits. Johnson Controls in Milwaukee is an example of a local vendor to the automotive industy.

Can't buy a new car? Fix things up and more money helps local people. Now is a good time to get summertime items tuned up and repaired like the lawnmower or things on the boat. See if the motorcycle shop needs work. Maybe they will do free pick-up of your scoot to keep the shop busy. How about that garage door or opener? Time to get the springs adjusted or get a new opener before the old motor burns out?

Pretty presents under the Christmas tree are a great tradition, but things change. People voted for change. I hope I gave you a few ideas to facilitate some of that change and help the local economy too.

The title sums it up. If you're pressed for time, it says it all and you can move along. But here is my reasoning.

In the two businesses that I'm involved in, I've seen an economic slowdown. So, I'm in favor of injecting some money into the economy.  That is the key and it should be done wisely. Should and when that money come to us, it should be spent, not banked.  A service should be purchased or something material should be bought.

An example of a service would be maintenance, repair or improving your heating and air conditioning system, plumbing, electrical or other home improvement.  Most of that money stays locally. But buy products that are made in the USA. As most electronics are made overseas and sold by big box stores that funnel much of the profit out of the area, avoid such purchases unless you are in need of the product. I don't think any of us NEED a wall sized high definition home theater system! Have a pet in the house? There are lots of offerings for them.  Try to purchase your pet items from a pet store rather than a department store and try to find one that is owned locally.

How about your transportation? It can be hard to buy American but doing some needed repairs on your car, motorcycle, boat or snowmobile helps the local economy. If you use the money for a down payment, do it on an American brand but make sure that it is build in the USA. Remember that Chrysler has an engine plant in Kenosha, GM makes trucks and SUV's in Janesville and Johnson Control in Milwaukee makes batteries and other car parts. I don't know much about Ford in Wisconsin but do know that some components are made in Sheboygan.

Finally, who should get the checks to begin with.  Here I get controversial. Some say that if you pay taxes, you should get a check. If you don't pay taxes, you don't get a check. If this is to be an injection of money into the economy, it should be given to those that will spend it.  In my opinion, that means it should start from the bottom of the economic scale. How much one pays in taxes, if any, should not be the determining factor. Above a certain income level, you continue to buy what you want and when you want it with or without the stimulus money.  Why not help those that can use a financial boost the most? 

Too bad most shoes and clothes are no longer made in the USA.