As one who worked in a plant that was closed, so our company could move our production to Mexico, to take advantage of cheaper labor, I am very sensitive to buying Made in USA products when the opportunity affords itself. Our plant was opened up so the company could move production out of a sister plant, which was a union shop that had become entrenced in poor quality. Our plant produced a superior quality to our sister plants in Mexico, also. In fact, Chrysler required all product from our Mexico sister plant, to be sorted and inspected in our facility, before they would take delivery. But even our customers could not convince management to keep production in the USA. Cheap labor speaks volumes.
When our plant closed, I was very fortunate, to be able to transfer with the company to another plant. But most all of my coworkers, my good friends, were not so fortunate.
I won't buy an inferior product, just to buy American. But then, I can't think of an instance where I have been faced with that decision. In every instance I can think of, I have found American products that are equal or superior to imports. I won't buy a "Made in Taiwan" garden tool, such as a rake, shovel, etc., from Walmart. Instead, I'll go to the local nursery and buy a "Made in the USA" Ames. I have found they are actually superior tools, and worth the few dollars more that I pay.
When it comes to cars, I am very realistic about what constitutes "Made in America", and what is not. I have no problem buying a car, such as my Outback, that is built in the USA, but has a foreign nameplate. In fact, I would prefer to do so, than buy a car that is assembled in Mexico, but has a Ford or Chevy nameplate on it. I also pay attention to domestic content. With all else being fairly equal, I will give preference to a product with more domestic content.
So, when I hear people say that it is silly to worry about if a product is made in the USA or not, I wonder how long it will be before a friend, a brother, or a close neighbor is laid off because of business going South. And I wonder if they will still feel the same way then.