Buying American is more than just about economic patriotism; it's about traditions rooted and grounded with other American values established by the Founding Fathers of our country like self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and independence.

Independence isn't something we should merely celebrate once a year, but it's something we should support and therefore justify every day as Americans. The fact is we can no longer claim to be an independent nation if we continue to rely on foreign producers for our consumer purchases. A great way to break this seemingly endless cycle of foreign economic dependence is to patronize websites that sell only American-made goods like www.Petriot.com.

Petriot (pe-tre-uht) is a simple philosophy defined as "A patriot living in the e-lectronic era."

Many consumers wonder, as the founders of www.Petriot.com once did, if anything is made in the USA anymore. Fortunately, the answer is a resounding "yes" and many examples are available for purchase as proof on Petriot's online marketplace.

Although Petriot officially launched on July 4, there are several products to choose from as the website continues to grow since it's initial online presence. I would encourage you to browse between categories like home & garden, apparel & jewelry, heatlth & beauty aids, grocery items, sporting/outdoor, baby/kids, hobbies & collectibles, and office/business.

One item I find of particular interest since I do a lot of traveling by car is the EasyRest travel pillow, which has an elastic strap to fit over the head rest of most vehicles. Like all other items on www.Petriot.com, the product description of each item displays where it is made, so you can even discover which local economy you are supporting (the EasyRest travel pillow happens to be made in Auburndale, Wisconsin).

Petriot's humble beginnings are very similar to those of my own when I went shopping for apparel one day in 1994. The idea for Petriot began with family. While Christmas shopping one day and discussing the incredible rarity of finding American products on store shelves anymore, they decided to do something about it. Concerns for the challenges facing the American economy fueled their resolve, and the idea for Petriot was born.

Petriot is a bridge to our nation's incredible heritage, and their mission continues in the spirit of the American Revolution. In the 1770s, American colonists were driven to fight for independence from foreign influence and dominance overseas. That's exactly what they are doing at Petriot, but on an economic level. It is time to regain some of America's self-reliance and reduce our dependence on foreign markets. There is power in buying American, investing in quality, and supporting American livelihood. The American Revolution succeeded because our Founding Fathers had an incredible vision, one that galvanized so many to fight for their freedom. Petriot has a powerful vision to support fellow Americans in this act of economic patriotism. When you invest in American products, you invest in America.

Petriot embodies the idea that Americans need to once again stand united, as we did when our country was first born in the American Revolution. We need to keep alive the vision that inspired our Founding Fathers, when in 1776, they declared to the world that America was a sovereign nation. If we are to rekindle their vision for America, we must support one another, as our nation struggles to regain its economic stability.

If your vision for America is similar to that of what Petriot stands for, you'll find it interesting to browse their online marketplace at www.Petriot.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. In doing so, you can fulfill that which should be a goal of every American; to establish a genuine connection between American business owners and American consumers.

Roger Simmermaker is the author of How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism. He also writes "Buy American Mention of the Week" articles for his website www.howtobuyamerican.com and is a member of the Machinists Union and National Writers Union. Roger has been a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC, has been quoted in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and US News & World Report among many other publications, and is now a weekly contributor to WorldNetDaily.

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