I used to be the same way about purchasing stuff only I'd look for things manufactured here in Canada...till I started working for one of the world's largest privately owned companies. The motto of the company I work for is that if they are going to sell their stuff in a particular country, they'll try and create jobs there as well. I work for a Japanese automotive company and believe it or not but most of the parts for Japanese cars are manufactured in countries such as Canada and the States and others, some of these parts are shipped back to Japan and assembeled onto the vehicles there, then shipped back here for sale. If it weren't for some of these overseas companies, thousands and thousands of people would be out of work. One of our many plants in the States employees over 6000 people alone. I might be moving to one of our newest plants in two years which just opened up somewhere in Tennessee...they'll be makeing engine blocks. Remember, when you see something that says it's manufactured in another country, chances are it could very well be manufactured right where you live.