Guess Where Smithsonian Gifts Are Made
Which leads me to a larger point, as well as another blog post from our friend Ed O’Keefe, about whether or not the Smithsonian should be selling items that were not made in the USA. In “Smithsonian’s ‘Made in America’ Mandate Not Easy to Achieve” Ed explains:
The Smithsonian Institution is converting the [3rd floor souvenir shop of the American History Museum] to sell only American-made products, an experiment that may mean higher prices for consumers but could pave the way for similar “Buy American” efforts at other Smithsonian shops.
The change is far from easy. Foreign manufacturers produce many of the most popular items at Smithsonian shops, including American flag pins and coffee mugs bearing an image of the Washington Monument. Illustrated maps of Washington are designed in Britain, postcards of the Smithsonian Castle are from South Korea, and the tag on a tie-dyed Grateful Dead T-shirt says “Made in Honduras.”
So why the sudden change? While shopping for Christmas gifts for his grandchildren last year, a certain Vermont Senator was outraged to discover many of the gifts stocked by the museum’s souvenir shop were made in China.
He issued an ultimatum to Smithsonian bosses: Either sell more American-made items or risk losing billions in federal funding.
Motivated by reports of Sanders’s efforts, Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (W.Va.), ranking Democrat on a committee overseeing Smithsonian construction funds, also drafted legislation that would withhold money for museum construction if Smithsonian gift shops didn’t convert to domestic-made goods. He called the Smithsonian’s buying practices an “insult to American workers.”
Museum officials announced their gift shop overhaul days later.
Sound like a bit of an overreaction? Well to many it’s absolutely not. “Buying American” continues to be a hot topic with supporters from all parts of the political spectrum joining the movement. With a high-profile, albeit average-grossing, entity like the Smithsonian backing the system, many hope it could be the key ingredient in sparking a greater change.
On the other hand, how realistic is it to try and end foreign manufacturing reliance completely? Perhaps it’s just not possible at this point? From a consumer’s standpoint, when faced with anywhere from a 10% to 50% price difference between similar items, which do you think they’re going to choose? Which would you choose?
The arguments for either side could go on and on, but let’s hear from you.
Do you think the Smithsonian is moving in the right direction by only stocking products made in the USA? Or is it just simply unrealistic or, as some claim, hypocritical to force this legislation when so many people already struggle to “practice what they preach”?
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