LEAD POISONING!

[Timmay]

Ok fellow Americans and who ever else it affects, I just read in the local newspaper this morning where they are recalling yet another batch of products manufactured in China.  200,000 toys were tested and they all had high levels of lead in the paint.  I dont know about anyone else but I think it is high time we all take a stand against this.  It just really irates me to think that these companies think they can have all of their products manufactured overseas in countries like China and get the labor much cheaper so they can sell their products here at a cheaper price and still make a huge profit.  I see things a little differently than that.  Lead isnt anything to play around with.  I have a nephew who got lead poisioning from a cheap toy manufactured in China.  It has long term effects on any child who comes in contact with it.  The biggest retailor who is finding problems with this is Walmart.  What happened to the slogan Walmart had about 10 years ago where it said ONLY IN THE USA.  I would venture to say that only 5% of the products Walmart sells is made in the USA.  I for one, do not put a price on any childs life.  You can not put a price on a life....as hard as you may try...its impossible.  My family and I and several other people I have talked to have already started monitoring what we purchase.  If the product says made in china..back on the shelf it goes.  I would much rather pay a higher price for an item and be almost 100% satisified to know that the product is safe and of good quality.  I know that many of the toys and gadgets my kids have now are junk. They dotn last long at all, a few months and they are in the trash. I still have toys that I had when I was younger stored away at my parents house and you guessed it..they were all made in the USA.  Those toys have been thru alot, but they were of good quality.  I just think it is time we as Americans take a stand against this and if we just ignore it, just think what will happen.  Go ahead I dare you...put a price on your childs life......then let me know what price you put, cause I doubt any price you come up with will be sufficient.  I respect my family too much to allow them to subjected to this type of carelessness and greed.  Here's to all of you that may have already taken actions on their shopping habits....and if you havent already...do you think it is time to start?  I do.

[andrew]

Excellent points, TimmJ ....

I couldn't agree with you more on all points.  I've started to avoid MADE IN CHINA items already, and it's not easy.  Since Walmart has driven so many other stores out-of-business, our options are limited.  But, if enough people react this way and refuse to buy chinese goods, our companies will have no choice but to conform. 

With the value of the dollar declining against many foreign currencies, our products are now cheaper to buy from foreign countries, which has led to a recent decline of our trade deficit. (spit in the bucket of course)   Perhaps if Bush would stop cutting unfair trade agreements with countries around the world, our manufacturers would have a chance ....  But, if demand for MADE IN USA goods increases significantly in the USA, that could certainly would have an affect too.

I'm going to continue to try my best to avoid MADE IN CHINA goods, no matter what the cost difference is.  Can't put a price on safety, especially for our kids.   

[Timmay]

Andrew...thats great.  Im glad at least one other person in here agrees with me so far.  Are there any others?

[Marz]

You get what you pay for.

The company I work for almost went under as a result of the influx of Chinese knock off products. These inferior products are of poor quality and at times the poor craftsmanship can be dangerous. I avoid buying MIC products the best I can but there are some things you just cant avoid.

I think (hope) the American consumer is getting hip to the fact that although cheap, many Chinese products are sub-par and in the end a waste of money.

I also avoid Wal-Mart shopping as much as possible as they appear to be feeding the fire. I try to support local business when at all possible.

[warhawk]

timmj, andrew, marz........gr8 points fellas & i totally agree with your statments/opinions.  i remember  R  local hospital giving away AMERICAN FLAG PINS 2 place on  R  badges & i examined the pin & i'll  b  dang it was made in china.

WARHAWK

[andrew]

.... and the Chinese government has kept their currency artificially low against the dollar to make their products cheap for the US to import.  They used to "peg" their currency to the dollar so that it floated up and down with the dollar, but after lots of backlash, claimed they were making their currency float with the market. Well, they've not really done that and although the yuan (sp?) has gone up against the dollar, economists agree it hasn't gone up enough to make a difference or moved with the currency market.

Bottom line is that Chinese government is continuing to manipulate their currency to make their products cheap when bought with US dollars, thus continuing to erode our manufacturing sector.  Nevermind that the quality of their products suck....   

[JDog]

Excellent post Tim, I agree wholeheartedley.

I remember watching a home video of myself as a young boy, mayb 8 or 9 and and I was showing all the stuff I got one Xmas morning. When holding up a pair of shorts emblazoned with my favorite hockey teams logo(San Jose Sharks), I made a rather ugly face and pointed out they were made in China and threw them across the room. LOL, I guess I've been pro USA made products longer than I can remember.

The Chinese have the biggest foreign reserves of US dollars. Enough to throw our economy into turmoil if they decided to release it.

Unfortunately ,companies will still continue to have their products made there, because Xian-lee will work for $1 per 14 hour day yet Joe American gets a decent wage of $10.00 per hour. Welcome to Capitalism.

I for one will always continue to NOT buy Chinese made goods for this reason. Like Andrew said, it is quite hard as it seems everything under the sun is made there these day, even this keyboard I am typing on

[WannaBePadre]

When I came back from Asia 6 years ago, I scrupulously avoided anything MADE IN CHINA.

There's a seminarian here from China ... he says that what's sold in the US as MADE IN CHINA is such low quality that it wouldn't be sold in China.

Go figure! They send the worst merchandise to the USA!

HEY! WAIT A SECOND!

Look at the bottom of your HeadBlade Sport ... MADE IN CHINA.

[SLYinKC]

I agree with all that has been said.  China has not played fair in any of their trade dealings.  But it will take all of us taking a stand together to make a difference. If we don't buy it.  They won't make any money and they won't continue to export to our country at the levels they are now.  So go ahead.  Continue to get the word out.  Great point Tim.   

[Timmay]

Hey Wannabe I was going to ask the same question but I didnt want to really think about it.  It probably is made in china...and if it is....I honestly can say I will probably switch...thats how hardcore I am becoming on it.  Maybe headblade will wake up someday!  Lets hope

[Marz]

Unfortunately, those that make these decisions for large companies could care less about the issues with this as they are most likely in the Kaymen Islands with the trophy wife and 2.5 kids.

Small companies that try to make a difference cant compete with a large company that is getting products made in China.

If we vote with our dollars on this, we can make a difference. If we vote for politicians that stand up for American manufacturing maybe the tables will turn.

Can you imagine what would happen if trade tariffs were drastically increased on incoming products? Companies like HP, Wal Mart, and many others would completely crash.

Did you know that China charges us up the arse for products that are imported into China?

[tomgallagher]

Ah yes the great truths.

[andrew]

The Chinese have the biggest foreign reserves of US dollars. Enough to throw our economy into turmoil if they decided to release it.

You're very right, jdog.  Remember a few months back when we (I think Joe Lieberman) threatened China about their manipulation of their currency, and  they responded by mentioned their vast holdings of foreign reserves and how they might just cash them in, of which would throw our economy into a tailspin? They have us right where they want us ....

And, of course, our lop-sided trade agreement with them results very little demand for our products there, due to unfair tariffs. (Marz mentioned this, but I don't know how to do  nested quotes)

If only our leaders would cut fair trade deals with other countries, our manufacturing sector could have survived.  Now, our service sector is the next to go, with lop-sided trade agreements with India resulting in offshore outsourcing of software development, legal work, radiology readings, accounting work, and more ....