Patriotism Isn’t One Sided
My grandfather, Mike, was a World War II vet who spent his life working on the Erie Lakawanna railway. He was one of eight children of immigrants, extremely patriotic, and a staunch democrat. Above all, Mike was American.
I was only a teenager when he passed, but we were close. In the time I had with him, he instilled a succinct set of lessons; your good name is worth more than money, care about other people, and buy American.
There’s a certain type of irony that I found my way to PC Matic. My grandfather’s lessons are part of the core values of the company. PC Matic is a superior product, and yet we choose to make it affordable for everyone. We do this because we care about others and their ability to access cybersecurity.
Finally, PC Matic believes in buying American. We believe in it so much that it’s an integral part of who we are. Yet the idea of American inclusiveness is being pushed almost as a partisan ideal. That shouldn’t, however, be the case.
Buy Local
There’s been a movement the past few years to buy local. This means going back to your small town businesses and supporting them. The idea is that the money you’re paying for goods and services stays within your community and with your friends and neighbors. This works on a grander, national scale as well.
Global business is always necessary. I believe thoroughly in the idea that goods and services should be exchanged between cultures. It diversifies our abilities and understanding, but there’s something to be said for “buying local.”
In our current state, we are worried more than ever about our national economy. By keeping our business dollars internal, we’re doing our part to stay self-sufficient. We’re also making sure our money is going back into our communities. PC Matic employees are remote and all across the US. We live and play in big cities and small towns from the East to the West coast and everywhere in between.
A Safer Stance
There’s another bipartisan aspect to an American made antivirus. We know the laws and regulations in our country. There’s a level of transparency (stay with me even if you’re shaking your head “no” right now) in our governmental systems.
You trust your AV with a lot of information and data for your business and personal accounts. In the US, as Apple proved, a company can refuse to release data to government agencies. US companies have the right to protect their customers. That, however, isn’t the case in other countries.
Having the protections and backings of the American justice system allows a peace of mind that simply isn’t there for other products.
The Issue At Hand
Somehow, however, the idea of being proud of our country has fallen by the wayside. My personal opinion is that we haven’t spent enough time on my grandfather’s second edict; care about other people. That’s exactly what supporting American made is about though. We care enough about each other as a nation to lift each other up.
As our nation’s 243rd birthday approaches, think about American made. Think about how it’s an idea that benefits us all. Most importantly, consider, for a moment, Mike’s ideals and do something nice for someone else.
Stay safe out there.