It's no surprise that in America, money talks. I'm not referring to big businesses wheeling and dealing for a better profit margin, or politicians making shady back alley arrangements to line the own pockets. Sure, that stuff happens and it sucks that these groups don't have the Greater Good in mind; but is it their fault? I'm talking about you, me, and the guy next door. We buy the sale items. We clip coupons. We turn the light off when we leave the room. Anything to save a buck.

Perhaps the only thing that speaks louder than our love for making money is our penchant for convenience. Fact is, the "convenience element" is the one thing above all others that can actually make us part with our precious greenbacks faster and with less effort than it took us to earn them. Americans accept the "service charge" for paying automobile registration via the Internet versus dropping off payment at the DMV. Pay Per View may cost a little more in the long run, but it means you won't have to get up off the couch and drive to Blockbuster. We are forever grateful to the almighty EasyPass Transponder that relieves us of the burden of stopping for a toll. It's simply easier to pay the toll instead of working towards eliminated their existence all together.

Has anyone thought about the bigger implications of this behavior? Doesn't anyone care what happens on a global level? For years, Big businesses have been subjecting second and third world countries to deplorable working conditions in order to bring you a slightly cheaper product and turn a dollar. That's right, "slightly cheaper." When a worker is getting paid 10 cents per hour to assemble sneakers, why do they still end up costing over $100? They have it worked out so that they get big and fat while still appearing to be competitively priced.

Through our addiction to oil consumption, foreign trade tariffs, etc. we are are sending our money out of the US with no hope of it returning to us.

Our need for greed, and love of convenience, are the shameful habits that are slowly destroying the country.

Still want to pay $100 for shoes, no problem. Try this solution on for size: make the product here in the US and start employing the American people! I know, the top dogs won't be quite a fat and happy not taking advantage of dirt cheap laborers, but they will be doing their part to secure this country's future.

But that kind of thinking isn't rational. Besides, how can we expect others to change when we exhibit the same behavior? Through our actions, we are condoning the business practices of these companies. Money talks, right? Then with our pocket books we are saying loud and clear, "I don't care about what's ethical! Our future doesn't matter to me!"

Where has our American Pride gone? How long will our grand children and great-grandchildren be paying for the shortsighted selfishness of what's happening here and now?

Say it with me: Made in the USA!