Buying American is about more than the price tag

By Karen Post | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

This year, our country turns 250. Anniversaries are not just markers of time — they are moments of reflection. What kind of America do we want to be for the next 250 years? My answer is simple: one that invests in its own prosperity.

I am a 65-year-old serial entrepreneur who recently secured a license with America250 and Freedom250, to produce a line of American Prosperity Keepsakes.

The prosperity pillow is our hero product. The concept of prosperity pillows isn’t new. They’ve existed in cultures for thousands of years, often tied to symbols of luck and fortune. My version is different — distinctly American. 

This pillow is not about luck. It is about grit, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

That belief led me to make a choice: my prosperity pillow would be 100 percent Made in the USA. From design to fabric, stuffing, and finishing, every step happens on American soil. 

That decision increased my costs by nearly 50 percent compared with outsourcing overseas. But the story behind this collection could accept no less. If it’s about helping Americans attract wealth,

success, and opportunity, it must also support American workers, manufacturers, and communities.

This decision also exposed a challenge we all face as consumers. For decades, Americans have been conditioned to expect cheap imports. Retailers push back when a product costs a few dollars more. Consumers balk when they see a higher price tag. 

But the bigger picture is clear: when you buy American-made, you’re not just purchasing an item. You are investing in jobs, small businesses, and communities.

The numbers tell the story. In 2023, about 52 percent of all U.S. purchases of manufactured goods came from domestic content — meaning nearly half still flowed to imports. 

Manufacturing jobs have collapsed from a peak of 19.6 million in 1979 to just 12.8 million today, a 35 percent decline. 

Between 2002 and 2022, the number of U.S. manufacturing firms fell by 21 percent, while employment in the sector dropped by 17 percent, even as the overall economy grew.

Yet the upside is just as powerful, producing a 100 percent American sourced and made product can generate between $2.70 and $3.60 in economic activity for every dollar spent, creating a powerful ripple effect that supports local jobs, businesses, and public services. This multiplier is the highest of any sector in the U.S. economy and is especially robust when the supply chain is fully domestic.

That’s not charity — that’s return on investment. And consumers say they want it: 77 percent of Americans prefer Made-in-USA goods, and 82 percent would buy more if major retailers carried them.

But preference without purchase is empty patriotism.

We need a new mindset. Paying a little more for Made in the USA isn’t a penalty. It’s a dividend. When you choose a product that costs more because it was made here, by Americans, you’re

fueling paychecks, reviving factories, and ensuring that prosperity remains within reach for future generations.

I don’t pretend this is the easy path. My prosperity pillow could have been produced abroad for far less. But every stitch made in America is more than a production choice — it is a statement and a value. 

Each pillow is designed to serve as a daily reminder that prosperity does not come from chance or shortcuts. It comes from determination, ingenuity, and a belief in the promise of America itself.

On our nation’s 250th birthday, America doesn’t need more discount imports. It needs citizens willing to put their money where their patriotism is. Don’t balk at a few dollars more. Buy American. When you do, you’re not just purchasing a product — you’re reviving dreams, restoring industries, and writing the next chapter of our American prosperity story.

Ms. Post is the founder of Home Frosting, a Tampa-based interior design company and a licensee for America250 and Freedom250. She is also a twice-published business author and frequent thought leader on national media.

America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. This multi-year effort, from now through July 4, 2026, is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.

Freedom 250 is a national initiative supporting the White House and federal government in delivering the official celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Through landmark events, cultural moments, and nationwide activations—from a UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn to the Great American State Fair, an Indycar Grand Prix, and the July Fourth Salute to America on the National Mall—Freedom 250 brings the commemoration to life across the country. This effort unites communities, the government, and the private sector in celebrating the triumph of the American spirit.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.