FOREWORD<br > Although more and more Americans are becoming aware of it，<br >many people still do not understand the devastating damage that we<br >are doing to our economy by our dependence on imported products.<br > America s gigantic trade deficit is responsible for the systematic<br >transfer of America s wealth to our trading partners. Through our<br >purchasing habits， we are increasing the wealth of our trading part-<br >ners and raising their standard of living while we decrease our own<br >wealth and lower our standard of living. The resulting erosion of our<br >manufacturing base is permanently destroying millions of American<br >jobs.<br > If we continue on the path that we are now following， America is<br >destined to become an economic shell， with most American work-<br >ers relegated to low-skill， low-wage service jobs.<br > But there is an answer. The collective American consumer is still<br >the most powerful economic force in the world. If enough Ameri-<br >cans are willing to follow the common-sense rule of seeking out<br >high-quality， high-value American-made goods whenever possible，<br >we can and will bring our foreign trade into a healthy balance.<br > That s why I am so pleased to see the wealth of advice and prac-<br >tical help offered in The Patriotic Consumer Anyone interested in<br >making a positive contribution to the restoration of America s finan-<br >cial well-being will find this book a dependable source of guidance<br >and help.<br > WILLIAM J. LYNOTT， FOUNDER<br > Buy AMERICA FOUNDATION<br >