XTRATUF

Xtratufs, if you don’t already know, serve most of Alaskans as the boot déléguer. Calf length with good tread, all rubber and truly tough, these waterproof boots serve to keep out the mud, snow and slush like no other -- for a couple of generations of Alaskans. They are warm and flexible in the cold -- serving us year round. Fishermen especially consider them a necessity. They use to be distributed almost exclusively in Alaska. They were made by a small company in Illinois but were recently sold to a company in China. Yes, the manufacturing immediately moved to China, and the Illinois workers lost their jobs.

A big schism erupted yesterday making national news. Even Mark Begich, Alaska Senator, got involved. It seems the new, made in China, XTRATUF boots leak and tend to fall apart. Everyone up here is screaming about the problem. The new owner in China promise to fix it, but that is not the point.

I think we could do something about this economic mess we are in, and the boots too, if we all simply refused to buy anything not made in the USA.