Aug 3, 2012

Made in China

I usually do not do this but this is getting me irritated.  Just yesterday my husband was getting out his belts to give away since he has lost so much weight.  ALL of them were marked made in China.  We never paid attention.  So now we will.  I hope all of you will too.

AUGUST 1st to Sept. 1st  

Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were made in China . Her daughter will recognize her in the following. Did y'all see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USAThere was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally.                                                             

During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.. It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like  200,000 new jobs! 

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA ' .  FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '.  I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.  Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.  70% of Americans,.. believe that trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.                                                                                                                                               Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? You Can..DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.     THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!  Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug. 1st and continue it until Sept. 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.                                                                                                                                                    Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st !START NOW.

11 comments:

Libby Fife said...

I feel the same way about this as I do about making other choices: it is entirely up to the consumer to pay attention. I don't watch network TV or read the newspaper or other things like that because I won't support something I don't like or agree with. A person has to be very conscious all of the time; it's how we can exercise our rights.

Nina Marie said...

well you hit on a subject that is close to my husband's heart. We try to buy American here although it gets harder and harder. He just said the other day that he's not going to worry too much buying Chevy if 90% of their parts are foreign made. Even Bernina's top of line machines - the 820 and 830 parts are foreign made (outside of switzerland that is LOL) and they are partially Asian assembled. Hmmm we could buy a Toyota which is assembled in Indiana giving a bunch of my Godmother's neighbors jobs. That all said - with oil prices consistently high and travel more annoying, US companies are bringing more and more back. Its no longer as cost effective as it once was. So we'll see if that trend continues

Laura McGrath said...

Too many Americans are only interested in getting the cheapest item instead of buying a quality product. Look at the meats and produce in Walmart sometime, they all come from Mexico or China--yuck, who wants to buy crap from there?? Lots of people who want to "save money", apparently. I buy local whenever possible, and only buy food labeled Product of USA--hard to find sometime, but definitely worth it. Also, I try to shop independent, smaller grocery stores who are actually better at providing USA products. We all just have to start paying more attention.

Cedar Ridge Studio said...

Thanks for sharing this I shared it on facebook. I refuse to buy anything made in CHina

Susan Turney said...

Thanks Barb. Something I just haven't thought that much about. I will now!

Debra Dixon said...

I avoid Made in China as much as possible. I also go the 2nd step and buy recycled, reclaimed, thrifted when possible. I find that to be a win-win when the profit from the item's sale goes into community resources & outreach programs.

How about Ralph Lauren sending the Team USA uniforms to China to be made? I bet that won't happen again. Talk about a kick in the teeth.

Unknown said...

five years ago I started to avoid anything made in China. It was not as easy as I thought and it has gotten much harder as the years go on. I read all the labels and will spend the extra bit to go with the USA made products. I just wish more and more people would think about the damage these cheap and sometimes toxic products are doing to our jobs and lifestyles. A well written and important post Barbara!

Kay said...

I don't disagree with you. Several years ago I resolved never to buy another Chinese made Christmas decoration, and I've kept the resolve. But it's not that simple. The Chinese import lots from us too, including food items. What if they stopped? And what if people in other countries stopped buying US exports? And what if European tourists stopped coming to the US and shopping like crazy? (Believe me, they do--you can see this in any big city). With the dollar weakening recently our exports have actually been growing, although we still have a deficit, and we're a popular tourist destination for the same reason. So the whole question is really quite complicated.

Bruce the Great said...

Why has so much manufacturing gone out of the usa? Does anyone here understand why that has happened?

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

From what I have been told it is due to the lower cost of manufacturing in countries where they do not have to pay their employees that much or give them benefits like we have.

Bruce the Great said...

With that said, what caused the need for lower manufacturing costs? Were domestic manufacturing costs getting too high with all those benefits being given?

Of course, most jobs now being offered come with no benefits so we have solved that cost issue.

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