'Made in America' or 'Made in China'

[tomcat]

It's not often that I have been presented with the choice of buying a
product made in China or America. The opportunity came along the
other day when I was getting a front disk brake job on the family mini-
van and needed new rotors. The ones made in China were cheaper by
far, but I said "Give me the ones made in the USA."
I was amazed that they actually still make something here in America
and so I was very pleased to be able to support that. From now on, I will
try and remember to always ask if there is whatever I need made in the USA.
I hope more people will.
Tom

[moonchild]

Bravo for your efforts! We have become so dependant on foreign products due to lower costs.
I received a nice gift certificate for Nordstroms from my boss a few years ago. When I went to redeem it, I had some things in mind that I needed. After visiting several departments, I realized they didn't carry anything made in the USA. Very discouraging especailly since their prices are high or higher then other stores.

It's not often that I have been presented with the choice of buying a
product made in China or America. The opportunity came along the
other day when I was getting a front disk brake job on the family mini-
van and needed new rotors. The ones made in China were cheaper by
far, but I said "Give me the ones made in the USA."
I was amazed that they actually still make something here in America
and so I was very pleased to be able to support that. From now on, I will
try and remember to always ask if there is whatever I need made in the USA.
I hope more people will.
Tom

[tomcat]

Yes indeed... And today I read in the paper that Ford is offering buyouts to 75,000 workers and hopes to eliminate 30,000 jobs. This is just the beginning as many American businesses start chopping workers, inflation heats up, housing prices tank and our economy quickly sinks into the sunset.

Reminds me of those words in that Jackson Browne song... "Hold on steady, try to be ready, everybody's gonna get wet. Don't think it won't happen just because it hasn't happened yet."

But maybe it won't be so bad if we all stick our heads in the sand... or... CHANGE OUR WAYS?
Tom

Bravo for your efforts! We have become so dependant on foreign products due to lower costs.
I received a nice gift certificate for Nordstroms from my boss a few years ago. When I went to redeem it, I had some things in mind that I needed. After visiting several departments, I realized they didn't carry anything made in the USA. Very discouraging especailly since their prices are high or higher then other stores.

[helenscott08]

Yes indeed... And today I read in the paper that Ford is offering buyouts to 75,000 workers and hopes to eliminate 30,000 jobs. This is just the beginning as many American businesses start chopping workers, inflation heats up, housing prices tank and our economy quickly sinks into the sunset.

Reminds me of those words in that Jackson Browne song... "Hold on steady, try to be ready, everybody's gonna get wet. Don't think it won't happen just because it hasn't happened yet."

But maybe it won't be so bad if we all stick our heads in the sand... or... CHANGE OUR WAYS?
Tom

Maybe if EVERYONE would wake up and realize that we can't blame anyone but ourselves if we don't get out and vote all the incumbents out of office. We need some strong leaders who are able to rise above the politics as usual.

And, it won't do to JUST VOTE. WE MUST START PAYING ATTENTION to who is running for office, what they stand for, how they have voted, etc. and what they want for the future in all the areas of importance at the current time.

OTHERWISE, all the moaning and groaning and blaming each other is for naught. OUR COUNTRY will fall apart so fast you won't believe it. Thank heavens I do not have children who will inherit the mess we in today's world are making of our country.

helen s

[Dixon]

Sisters and Brothers;

I just wanted to endorse sassydog's wise advice. We should indeed pay attention to what these political hacks really stand for (as opposed to their rhetoric), and vote out anyone who's not truly progressive.

Some basic guidelines:

1. Beware the manipulations of slimy politicos who would appeal to our xenophobia, racism, nationalism, selfishness and fear by demonizing some out-group such as "illegal aliens", homosexuals, abortionists, feminists, pornographers, pot-heads, etc., and then presenting themselves as the antidote to the "problem".

2. When someone invokes the concept of what's good for "our country", with little apparent regard for the needs or rights of those who originate outside "our" borders, turn up your BS detector to its highest setting.

3. Oppose those who support the brutal, and ultimately globally suicidal, paradigm of competing against and dominating other countries so that we can be "#1"--the biggest, strongest, richest, most arrogant, wasteful and polluting country on the planet. Support those who abandon that sick macho nationalistic paradigm in favor of a global vision based on sharing, the Golden Rule, and a lived sense of the brother/sisterhood of everyone on our Mother Earth.

Thanks, sassydog, for bringing up the subject!

(I don't know what breed "sassydog" is, but I'll bet it's not chihuahua!)

Love to all on both sides of whatever line you may draw;

Dixon

Maybe if EVERYONE would wake up and realize that we can't blame anyone but ourselves if we don't get out and vote all the incumbents out of office. We need some strong leaders who are able to rise above the politics as usual.

And, it won't do to JUST VOTE. WE MUST START PAYING ATTENTION to who is running for office, what they stand for, how they have voted, etc. and what they want for the future in all the areas of importance at the current time.

OTHERWISE, all the moaning and groaning and blaming each other is for naught. OUR COUNTRY will fall apart so fast you won't believe it. Thank heavens I do not have children who will inherit the mess we in today's world are making of our country.

helen s

[Moon]

The ones made in China were cheaper by
far, but I said "Give me the ones made in the USA."

What we really need is a law setting a minimum wage for overseas operations of US-based companies.
Then we could dispense with the whole debate over "If we buy something made in another country, are we helping the company keep the workers in poverty, or
does any little bit of revenue help the country break out of poverty, as some economists
say is starting to happen in India?"