The resurgence of 'pocketbook patriotism'

“Once you start looking and you have a little patience, you can find what you want,” he said.

Still, he concedes that it’s easier to make the commitment to buy American because he doesn’t have kids. This past Christmas, Paciullo bought domestically made wooden toys for his nephews, but they were a tough sell in an age when kids want electronic gadgets that are made overseas.

“If I did have kids, I would try to educate them,” he said.

Raised in a family of war veterans and union workers, Toncheff, who is 50, can’t remember a time when her family didn’t just try to support American businesses but, preferably, those near her home in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.

When she shops for food, Toncheff favors the grocery store that uses unionized workers. Perusing the shelves, she seeks out brands she thinks are most likely to be domestically produced. Her produce comes from the farmer’s market and her bread is from a local baker. She prefers California wine over imports.

Even her dogs, cat and horse eat American-made pet food from the local feed store. Her furniture, knickknacks and other decorative items are from the local Amish community, various American antique dealers and people selling on eBay. Often, Toncheff buys used items because the new versions are imported.

For a recent kitchen remodel, she relied on stones from the local Amish community and pressed aluminum from an Ohio company.

To her, being patriotic with your dollars is similar to being patriotic in a time of war.

Tracy Boulian / Special to MSNBC.com Even Barbara Toncheff's dogs, cat and horse — Bucky — eat American-made pet food from the local feed store.

“If you can stick up for your country and risk your life, why the heck can’t you stick up for your country when you go to the store?” she asked.

There’s no doubt Toncheff’s commitment is impressive, but some question whether it makes economic sense. Brian Bethune, U.S. economist with Global Insight, thinks some people pay too much attention to the issue of Chinese imports, when the effect of those goods pales in comparison to the major contributor to America’s trade deficit: those billions of dollars in petroleum imports that are imported to satisfy our thirst for oil.

“That’s the main problem on the trade deficit,” Bethune said. “These other issues are really very small in order of magnitude.”

Americans could make a major impact on the trade imbalance by relying more on alternative forms of energy such as solar or geothermal, or by reducing consumption, Bethune said. But in the meantime, if Americans really want to commit to buying American, perhaps they should start by getting a bike – or a bus pass.

“Every time you turn on your car you’re creating a problem with the trade deficit,” Bethune said.

For people like Toncheff and Paciullo, there is some good news. If you exclude oil imports, Bethune notes that the trade deficit actually appears to be improving. That’s partly because the slumping economy is crimping U.S. consumption of imported items, while the weak dollar is boosting the attractiveness of American-made products.

Nevertheless, there are still many items that are almost impossible to find domestically, and sometimes even someone as committed as Toncheff has to give in. Recently, she fell in love with a set of dishes that she suspects are made overseas, to replace the mishmash of everyday plates and bowls she’d been using. And when her old RCA television gave out, she knew there was little hope of finding an American-made replacement.

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