For Poetry at Work Day (Jan. 8, 2019): A poem called "It used to be Made in America"

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jan. 1, 2019 - PRLog -- ATTENTION BUSINESS EDITOR: FOR POETRY AT WORK DAY (January 8, 2019):

*A POEM CALLED "IT USED TO BE MADE IN AMERICA"

*AND, A SERIES OF MEDIA PROJECTS THAT COULD BE BUILT AROUND A MADE IN AMERICA THEME

When you do any stories about the economy, trade deals, the state of manufacturing in America and the state of manufacturing in your area, and when you do any pieces about Poetry at Work Day, you might also be interested in taking a look at a poem called "It used to be Made in America."

"It used to be Made in America" is a poem about the loss of jobs and the consequences of the outsourcing of jobs and manufacturing to other countries. It paints a vivid picture of conflicting economic forces and you can see the poem online at www.itusedtobemadeinamerica.com and also at www.madeinusa.us.com

The poem was written  by Robert Barrows, President of an advertising agency called R.M. Barrows Advertising & Public Relations in San Mateo, California.

Some of the verses to "It used to be Made in America" go like this.

THE POEM STARTS OFF WITH THIS VERSE:

"It used to be made in America

It used to be made in my town

It used to be made just down the street

Now they've shut that factory down.

A VERSE ABOUT UNIONS GOES LIKE THIS:

It once had a union label

It said AFL-CIO

Now it's made someplace, who knows where?

And we watched all those good jobs go.

A VERSE ABOUT TARIFFS GOES LIKE THIS:

The solution to all this economy

Usually ends in a war

Tariffs, Trade and Protectionism

Is that what we're working for?

A VERSE ABOUT PROFITS GOES LIKE THIS:

The deals overseas are way too tempting

The savings are way too dear

But the real cost we pay is far greater

It's a cost we pay for in fear.

"The poem 'It used to be Made in America' paints a vivid picture of conflicting economic forces, says Barrows, and it's a poem that every businessperson should read, every purchasing manager, every politician and every American should read...and it's a poem that a lot of politicians and a lot of labor leaders and a lot of journalists might want to turn to when they talk about these kinds of topics, especially in light of the coming problems about trade wars, tariffs and protectionism.

Barrows started writing the poem when he ran for Congress in the Democratic Primary in the 12th Congressional District in California in 2006.

When he would do speeches about the economy, he would point out that his shirt was made in one country, his tie was made in another, his shoes and suits were made in yet another country. His phone and computers and TVs and cameras and most of the appliances in his household were made in other countries, and practically none of them were made in America. (Barrows also ran for Congress in 2008. He lost both times.)

So, when you are getting ready to do any stories about jobs, the economy, trade deals, the state of manufacturing in America, and the state of manufacturing in the area in which you live...here are some things to consider:

1) Is manufacturing increasing where you live or is it declining?

2) How many factories have closed down in your area?

3) How many schools have been closed?

4) How many school programs have been cancelled?

5) How many jobs have been outsourced to other countries?

6) What are the human and economic consequences of all that outsourcing?

7) What can be done about it?

8) How can America bring those jobs back?

9) Are corporate inversions going to continue during a Trump administration?

10) And, how quickly will President Trump's policies be able to help turn the tide to manufacturing more things here in America again.

And, in addition to some of the economic and tax and tariff plans that Trump has been talking about, THE REAL POWER TO REVERSE THE MANUFACTURING DECLINE quickly is in the hands of the people right now...and it's called "BUY AMERICAN!" says Barrows.

"Once consumers start boycotting products and brands that are not made in America, and once consumers start 'demanding' that American manufacturers and retailers start making more of their manufacturing and purchasing decisions to offer more goods that are Made in America, you will see how quickly the tide will turn to manufacturing it here in America."

Barrows hopes to be able to develop "It used to be Made in America" into a variety of entertainment and business projects that could help bring more attention to the need for manufacturers and retailers to start making more of their manufacturing and purchasing decisions to offer more products that are made in America.


You can see some more of Barrows' poetry in an ebook called "Crazy Robert's Poems and Potential Song Lyrics," that you can download for a dollar on Amazon. The book contains some more poems that would also be appropriate for Poetry at Work Day. Those poems are called "Sales Calls," "Computer Controlled," and "Food Chain." (A line in Food Chain goes like this..."We're all birds of prey and you're just DNA in the Food Chain.") How's that for Poetry at Work Day? (It's not exactly "Whistle while you work.")

For more information, contact Robert Barrows at R.M. Barrows, Inc. Advertising & Public Relations in San Mateo, California at 650-344-4405.