NEW TAP MERCHANTS!
Visit our online directory to find American-Made Products
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New merchants to include are Buck Knives, Master Plaster, Pirate Sandal Wear, Duelen Tools, Ball and Buck (hunting clothing) Jacob Bromwell (kitchen appliances), Eagle Express Mart, and Hines Investigative & Extended Services (private investigations service)
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FEATURED MERCHANT
Cardthartic Greeting Card Company for TAP America
created a partnership to create a
that can be purchased on the Cardthartic Website.
Please visit their exquisite collection today and purchase the TAP Made In America card.
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George Soros on CNBC: More Needed to Safeguard Euro Zone
Published: Wednesday, 25 Jan 2012 | 4:41 PM ET
By: Heesun Wee, Special to CNBC.com
Despite some improvement in the euro zone crisis after the European Central Bank's recent actions, billionaire investor George Soros told CNBC on Wednesday that more is needed to safeguard the region in the face of a possible Greek default and rising national debts.
"It did not solve the problem of the heavily indebted countries that now are in a position of a Third World country that it is too heavily indebted in a foreign currency," said Soros, who spoke in a wide-ranging interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Soros, 81, a Hungarian-American business leader, is chairman of the Soros Fund Management. He is also an active philanthropist and human-rights activist.
He said what's needed beyond the recent ECB action is a European-wide solution to the region's debt crisis. Instead, there's a trend of so-called "ring fencing," where nations are only lending to their respective, national banks.
Without intervention, he said: "It actually could eventually prepare the ground for a breakdown of the euro, if the financial system of each country becomes much more self-contained. But that's not really where they want to go."
Soros added, "Gradually it's bringing down the interest rates. However, I don't think it's a strong enough 'ring fence' if and when Greece defaulted. And there is a real danger of that happening, a possibility," Soros said. "And you need to strengthen Italy and Spain against that."
Soros' tough words for the European Union came on the opening day of the 42nd annual Davos forum, where global political and business leaders are meeting from Jan. 25 to 29.
Euro 'Full of Defects'
Soros went on to say the time is now to edit the euro zone's playbook. "The rules are stepping stones, they're not cast in stone that you can't change them. It turns out that the euro is full of defects," Soros said. "We must be willing to change the rules, and there you have very strong resistance, particularly from the old guard of the Bundesbank that lost their jobs and are really standing in the way."
In two years, the euro will have to look different, Soros said. "It will have to because it doesn't work the way it is," Soros said. "The heavily indebted countries are like Third World countries that borrowed in a foreign currency."
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BLACK FRIDAY MARKS START OF "BUY AMERICAN MONTH"
TAP America Urges Citizens to Purchase Domestically Made Goods, Experiential Gifts & Boycott China This Holiday Season
SEATTLE, WASH. - November 22, 2011 - TAP America, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening America and its citizens, today declared December 2011 as "Buy American Month," just in time for the holiday shopping season. TAP America believes that the United States economy is suffering at the hands of the Chinese government due to their aggressive policies. To avoid the long lines on Black Friday, TAP America is asking for American citizens to buy American, give service-oriented gifts, and boycott products made in China, thereby sending a message to corporations and manufacturers that people value American workers, jobs and innovation.
Researching China's Influence Over America
According to TAP America Founder Mark Bloome, "Next year China needs to create over 25 Million new jobs to meet population growth and the Communist Government of China (CCP) will use any means to take jobs from Americans and bring them to China, and the failure of the USA economy to recover is proof of the effectiveness of the CCP's policies that include subsidies, theft of intellectual ideas and currency manipulation. We encourage all citizens to take 'Buy American Month' to heart and do their best to help boycott China this holiday season."
As part of "Buy American Month" TAP America has issued an in-depth research whitepaper that examines the expanding role of China in the global marketplace in terms of population, economic growth, human rights and military strength. This research paper highlights the threats and interdependent relationships of the Chinese government in hopes of eliciting change at the citizen-level to re-ignite the torch of liberty for America and the world. TAP reminds citizens to remember that it is not the Chinese people who pose a threat to America, but the Chinese Government ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.
Buy American for Holiday Shopping
"Asking Americans to buy American is not an easy task," said Richard Tso, Executive Director of TAP America. "Today most all electronic, clothing and textile goods are manufactured in China and popular American companies like Apple, REI, Walmart, and GAP are sending manufacturing jobs overseas in order to achieve short-term revenue gains. This holiday, in lieu of giving gifts products as gifts, TAP America urges people to Instead give experiential and service-oriented gifts like: gym memberships, concert tickets, some rounds at the golf course, or local restaurant gift certificates. If you need to purchase a product as a gift, then try to buy American to help our economy."
TAP America recently announced their TAP Certified Merchant program to encourage stores to stock at least 20% of U.S. goods and to increase their American made inventories by just 1% per month. As incentive, businesses who sign up are featured in news articles, included in the TAP online business directory, and are featured in a Groupon-like service called AmeriCoupon that helps people find deals on products made in America.
Since launching in January of 2011, TAP has created national awareness campaigns aimed at promoting tolerance, encouraging people to stay physically active, and to purchase products made in America. For more information about TAP America, to volunteer or to make a donation, please visit www.tapamerica.org.
About TAP America
TAP America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing and strengthening America and its citizens. Founded in 2011 TAP embodies what it means to be American by promoting patriotism, tolerance and Americanism through education and multimedia educational programs. The tenets of TAP encourage people to be physically active, embrace equality and support the American economy by purchasing products made in America. TAP America Founder Mark Bloome created the organization out of love for his country and its people and a desire to promote patriotism, free from political and economic self-interest. For more information about TAP America or to volunteer please visit www.tapamerica.org.
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TAP America Newsletter Jan 2012
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Greetings!
What is your New Year's Resolution?
Will you make the pledge to Buy American or to practice tolerance this year? Will you give back to your community through volunteer work and by helping TAP achieve its fundraising goals? We all need to start making small changes to our daily routine to help improve our economy and make our country a better place for all.
Buying American is something that we can do to start bringing jobs back to the U.S. and make preparations to avoid the Euro Zone Crisis.
I am proud to say that our social media presence has increased dramatically over the last month, with over 200 new likes on facebook. Last month, we were pleased to have been featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer for their Made In America segment and appeared on several news stations around the country encouraging people to buy American.
Please take a moment to watch our video called "What is TAP America?". Please consider making a donation to TAP America by clicking here. Your support helps us continue to provide national programs to promote tolerance and educating our citizens about the value of buying American.
Thank you for supporting our cause and we look forward to continued success through the rest of 2012.
Best,
Richard L. Tso
Executive Director, TAP America
@pseudosound
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Featured Article
America and the Euro Zone |  | |
By Mark Bloome, Founder of TAP America
As our world has grown smaller and interconnection greater, we will be affected by the 'getting worse by the day' situation in Europe.
Put simply, many of the European governments have spent too much money and cannot bring down their debts. No matter what austerity measures they take their economies and their work forces are uncompetitive.
These countries include Greece, Italy, and Spain. Even France is having its share of problems.
Not unlike the USA, the political situation in these countries is divisive and the people do not want to deal with the hardships of austerity and politicians in those countries deceive the voters pretending they have a painless solution.
Also plaguing these countries is that tax avoidance, tax bribery, and off the books transactions have hindered adequate tax collections to pay down their debts.
Two reasons why should we care about this:
- Imports and exports. We export goods to Europe and if they are in a recession/depression then they cannot buy our goods. Further as their economies decline their currency, called the euro, will go down in value making European imports cheaper and costing American jobs.
- We do not know how interconnected our banks are with European banks. There are transactions going on all the time such as 'derivatives', which are defined as; contracts, whose value is derived from that of other quantities. Derivatives are written by financial institutions such as banks and investment bankers and are hidden from public view.
They were a substantial part of the problem when our economy collapsed in 2008. We do not know how much American banks are tied into European banks through loans and derivatives.
Due to the stand off in D.C. we have done little to make visible if our financial institutions have either made loans to European banks and businesses or to make visible if they have been involved in derivatives.
America needs to turn inward and buy our own products. We cannot go backwards into the 'good old glory days' as the world has substantially changed and so has our country. We need to take care of our own country and at the same time maintain our freedom through diplomacy and a strong military.
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TAP APPEARS ON ABC WORLD NEWS WITH DIANE SAWYER
Ad Deemed Too Political for Seattle Metro Allowed to Run
Seattle to Allow 'Made in America' Ads
TAP America, a Seattle nonprofit organization, was initially rebuffed by the Seattle Metro bus transit system when it sought to run advertisements on local buses that would urge shoppers to buy American goods. But Seattle Metro changed its tune today, saying it would allow the ads to run, despite initially deeming them too political for city buses.  According to Mark Bloome, founder of TAP America, he "got notice that they turned it down because they said it was political and controversial," a designation that Bloome said left him "flabbergasted." "To have a government body say that to buy American is controversial, I don't get it," Bloome said. The initial ban seemed to stem from a Seattle metro policy that bars "Public issue advertising expressing or advocating an opinion, position or viewpoint on matters of public debate about economic, political, religious or social issues." This ban went into place after a group sought to place ads depicting Israelis as war criminals on buses, which were not allowed to run. Seattle Metro's initial response to the TAP America ads was, "The concept of Buy American is an issue of both political and economic debate." Bloome said, however, that TAP America's advertisement did not fall into that category. "We're not political, we're a nonprofit organization trying to help our country." The Seattle Metro system apparently agreed, as it reversed its decision and allowed the ads to run. "Upon further evaluation ... the ad does not express an opinion about a public issue ... but rather a promotion of the sale of goods," Seattle Metro said in a statement. "Therefore, we will allow it to run." The words "December Is Buy American Month, Shop Locally, Join Seattle's TAPamerica.org," will be displayed to Seattle Shoppers. Watch the Video Broadcast | |
TAP America In The Seattle Times
Metro bars 'Buy American' ad
TAP America's plan to buy ads on Metro buses urging people to "Buy American" and "Shop Locally" has been rejected by King County as too political.
By Jim Brunner Seattle Times political reporter
A local group's plan to buy ads on Metro buses urging people to "Buy American" and "Shop Locally" has been rejected by King County as too political.
TAP America, a Seattle-based nonprofit, sought to place the ads starting this week on the outside of Metro buses, concentrating on bus routes that run through shopping districts of downtown Seattle and Bellevue.
The message was meant as a reminder to holiday shoppers that they could do something positive for the country by thinking about how they spend their money, said Richard Tso, TAP America's executive director.
The rejected ads read: "December is Buy American Month, Shop Locally, Join Seattle's TAPamerica.org." Tso said the group was prepared to spend $8,000 to run the spots on 45 Metro buses for the next four weeks.
But the county officials said no, citing the county's policy against ads that express a viewpoint on "matters of public debate about political, religious or social issues."
"The concept of 'Buy American' is an issue of both political and economic debate," said Metro spokeswoman Linda Thielke in an emailed statement.
The county's reasoning stunned Mark Bloome, the Seattle philanthropist who founded TAP America this year.
"We're not political," Bloome said. "We're just trying to keep the light of liberty alive as the economy spins down, and the only answer I have seen is to buy American."
Bloome said it was absurd the county would accept ads for clothing made in China but denied a simple "Buy American" ad.
Metro's cautious policy can be traced back to a controversy that erupted last year when another local group tried to purchase bus ads alleging "Israeli war crimes."
Metro ultimately barred those ads, saying their controversial message could lead to disruptions of bus service.
That sparked a lawsuit by the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, which had sought to place the ads. But a federal judge sided with King County, ruling in October that the decision to reject the ad was "a viewpoint-neutral and reasonable restriction in a limited public forum."
For a while after the Israel controversy, Metro refused to accept any noncommercial bus ads, Thielke said.
But in April, the bus agency adopted a revised policy that included the section prohibiting all ads taking a political position.
Bloome said he doesn't think TAP America's message was anywhere near as disruptive and hopes the county will reconsider its decision.
Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @Jim_Brunner.
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Watch the TAP America Commercial
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