Talking to a US maker the other day, I learnt that their business is down 50%. This is not due to new tariffs levelled on imported parts making their product more expensive. It's primarily due to foreign buyers reacting to their disdain for the current administration. They're boycotting America's economy by no longer shopping US-made hifi. Polish publishing colleague Wojciech Pacula of highfidelity.pl has assumed a similar stance on their review coverage. No more US-made products until things change. "We're all interconnected" isn't just New Age fluff. Whilst I have no taste for politics in our pages, it's fair to point out that whatever anti-American sentiments flare at the moment, they're also hurting smaller or bigger American business owners and operators who didn't vote Trump yet see their livelihood threatened by the global fallout of his tumultuous actions. It's why I won't join Wojciech's policy. I'll continue to cover select US-made product. I have no desire to penalize their makers for the present government they didn't want but now live under. This and counter arguments can be made any number of ways. This is merely my way and why I've long covered Chinese products independent of their government's policies or politics. I think that ordinary people trying to make an honest living deserve my support regardless of who happens to momentarily rule them. Again, feel free to disagree. This is but my opinion. It won't even buy me a cuppa down the street…
