Final answer:
Rodrigues would likely discuss the rise of credit-based purchases, the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs like those at Levi Strauss & Co., and trends in consumer confidence and spending in relation to American clothes buying habits from 1980 to today.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rodrigues, as a blogger covering Americans' clothes buying habits, would most likely include facts about the significant changes in the consumer culture from 1980 to the present day. One fact he would include is the shift towards buying on credit, a practice that allowed more people to participate in consumerism even when wages were low. This led to the phenomenon of living beyond one's means, pursuing an ideal lifestyle through purchasing the latest fashion and products, which sometimes resulted in considerable debt.
An additional fact might be the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, illustrated by the example of Levi Strauss & Co., which closed all its U.S. factories and moved production overseas in response to competitive pressures, a move symbolic of the larger U.S. trade imbalance issue. This period also saw a rise in consumer confidence and spending, facilitated by increased access to credit and advertising that encouraged consumption as a mark of success.
Finally, Rodrigues might discuss the broader social and economic trends, such as the rise of the middle class in the suburbs, increasing disposable income, and the development of new products and marketing strategies in the context of consumer culture and fashion. This evolution reflects America's shifting identity towards a society increasingly preoccupied with material goods and the image they present.