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Re: Made in America
short answer is NO. The experience that students get from this program far out weighs the costs that would be required to make everything in the US. Also remember that FIRST is an international programs with students from many other countries including Canada, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, China and more.
I also think that it is more important to be designed here than built here, FIRST is all about getting students to enter science, technology, engineering and math careers and while I am sure there are a large number of FIRST students who enter skilled trades in mfg, the focus is on the design side. The fabrication which students get to do during the build season makes them better designers as you can't design what you don't know how to build.
All that being said there are suppliers in FIRST who make most of their products in the USA, if you feel strongly about this part make your voice heard with your team's budget. On my team we buy the products that best fit our robot's design and are of the highest quality regardless of the country of origin.
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