Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Stannard, an author, musician and former lobbyist. This piece first appeared in the Bennington Banner.
[T]he level of fear and anger in America may not be unprecedented but it sure is close. People are angry and the result of their anger is that we now find ourselves in arguably the worst position in modern times.
For many years to come America will be known as the country that allowed kids to be torn from their parent’s arms.
The administration’s policy that allowed this to happen is because of a lack of leadership on the issue of immigration (or pretty much anything else). Immigration has us riled up. Some say that immigrants, illegal or legal, are pouring into our country and stealing our jobs, but is that really the problem? Are our jobs being “stolen” by immigrants or snatched away by corporations and shipped to China, et al., where they can pay lower wages and benefits?
If the nation is looking for a solution it need only turn to Vermont.
My wife, Alison, and I had to pleasure of touring the Green Mountain Glove Co. https://www.greenmountainglove.com/ in Randolph. This obscure business has been nestled away in this sleepy town for almost 100 years. Every single day a handful of employees come into work to cut and sew work gloves for the wholesale market. This is the last, truly “Made in America” glove company. The gloves are not assembled here. They’re made here from start to finish.
Like every other manufacturing business in America this company has felt the pressure of foreign competition. Where other manufacturers packed up and moved their operations (and our jobs) out of America, Green Mountain Glove is going the other way; they’re staying here.
The company was recently purchased by Sam Hooper. That name might sound familiar. Sam is the son of Don and Allison Hooper. Don served as secretary of state and Allison created the Vermont Creamery company. Nearly three decades ago Allison began making goat cheese in her kitchen. She parlayed that process into one of Vermont’s more important success stories. Sam learned a lot working in production.
When Vermont Creamery sold Sam looked for other opportunities where he could put his skills to work. Fortunately for everyone, he found Green Mountain Glove. Now, instead of closing this company and moving the
local jobs to China, Sam is committed to growing this company using Vermont workers. How and why would he do this? Because this company makes the best gloves. They are of extremely high quality and, yes, they cost more, but as we’ve always said, “You get what you pay for.” Sam pays his employees a fair wage and as his company grows his employees will grow with it. The people we met were quite content with not losing their job and having this young, high-energy man take over.
Think about the cycle. Huge stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Target buy products made by people who took your job. You, in turn, shop at these stores, because the prices are cheap (as are the products). You think you’re getting a good deal when, in reality, your shopping habits are undermining our labor force. Where an inferior pair of gloves may only last a year, Green Mountain Glove will last three to five times longer and are way more comfortable.
It’s not immigrants who are stealing your job. It’s your elected leaders who have allowed our corporations to move manufacturing out of America that have undermined our workforce. The latest tax cuts destined to bankrupt America are not the answer. The answer to the problem of job loss in America is you. If you commit to buying products made right here in America by young entrepreneurs like Sam Hooper you’ll go a long ways to solving many problems. Our leaders need to step up to the plate and address many serious issues that we’re facing, but they seem incapable of doing so. Thankfully, here in Vermont, in our own small way we’re making a difference.
Disclosure: Don Hooper is on the board of the Vermont Journalism Trust, the parent organization of VTDigger.
