The American People: The Real Key to Helping Businesses Make It In America

A recent Huffington Post article  by Rep. Steny Hoyer states that Innovation is the key to help businesses make it in America. Congressman Hoyer states that America can continue to lead the global economy into the twenty-first century only by “tapping into our tradition of innovation.”

He taps into his argument with a statement that China and other countries are investing more dollars in science, technology, engineering, and math at record levels in an attempt to build a global leading workforce. He states that competitors across the world are investing in their future and we cannot fall behind. Congressman Hoyer even brings former President Clinton into the argument with the topic and title of his recent novel ‘Back to Work, its time Americans got into the future business again,’ stating that ‘our economic future will be fueled by our limitless energy to innovate.’

Hoyer believes the best  way to innovate is through House Democrats' Make It In America plan. The plan aims to restore certainty to American businesses and help them expand so they can create jobs and compete with the global economy. He also mentions that the Make It In America plan combines tax reform and encourages manufacturers to move production back to the United States with investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.  Hoyer ends his piece with a patriotic speech about capturing the spirit that long made the U.S. the worlds innovation leader and that there is no limit to what we can do. He then leaves all responsibility on what ‘we’ can do in Congresses` hands saying, ‘It's up to Congress to embrace that future and make it possible.’

I believe Congressman Hoyer may have some good insights, but his proposition in leaving all control in the hands of Congress is wrong. Like many other Americans he chooses to leave this issue the hands of the government. It's not entirely Congresses' responsibility to make sure America continues to lead the global economy and create ways for manufacturers to innovate. It's the American people who are the real key to helping businesses make it in America.

There are also plenty of businesses still making it here. Essentially, we manufacture more products today than at any other time in our history. Yes, we manufacture more items today than the days of the Industrial Revolution. Yes, American manufacturers are still finding ways to innovate on their own. Yes, there are manufacturers who are choosing to stay and make it in America. Truth be told, America still makes more than 1.7 trillion dollars worth of goods each year which is more than China, Germany, Japan, or any other country on earth according to Yul Kwon.

I believe that we as a society have a tendency to assume that Congress and our government should do something about the problems we face. Even our political figures like Rep. Steny Hoyer feel the same way when he states that it's up to Congress to make something happen in regards to American Manufacturing. The truth is that American citizens can do something about it. Actually, American citizens can make an even larger impact than Congress as the following numbers show. If 300,000,000 American citizens spent only $500 on the necessities of USA Made clothing  and groceries alone, it would create an estimated $150 billion in revenue. This number alone will create thousands of jobs and help businesses make it in America.

Helping businesses make it in America is something that we can do together as a nation. As Hoyer puts it, ‘there is no limit to what we can achieve and the future we can create.’  We built this nation before by consuming our own items during the Industrial Revolution. We have come together against every obstacle this nation has faced. We have progressed together year after year. Why can't we make the difference and be the real key to helping businesses make it in America? Why can't the American people be the difference? It has never been congress's sole responsibility to capture the American spirit and improve the hardships we have faced as a nation.  It has always been we the people who can embrace hardships and achieve the future we want to create.

Logan