I'm quite biased on this - when someone asks what shorts to get - my suggestion is the J & G touring short.
They have a thin pad, are comfortable, long wearing, not hugely expensive, don't make you look like a stuffed sausage and I believe made in the USA [oregon].
If you need more traditional compressive shorts - check out the Aerotech brand - they have a plain cycle short with a good pad - these are also fairly comfortable, wear well, not hugely expensive and made in USA [PA].