what garbage they sell to us. They don’t care about the safety of their workers and they don’t care about the safety of our people.
Please please please buy American made products as often as possible. Even if you have to order on line.
With ALL the junk you see coming into the US from China, has anyone thought about when they plan on sending something really leathal into our country, and killing thousands, instead of hurting a few?
THINK!
Why does our government even allow the import from China of food, toothpaste or any product that can be ingested into our system? Obviously there are no quality controls in place–and if controls are in place, somehow they are overlooked.
I never purchase any food product if I know it’s from China (or Vietnam), but what troubles me, is what I eat in a restaurant or other places…….
I have, for several years now, avoided buying anything made in china. I did purchase some binoculars only to find out they were made in China and they were returned to the company selling them.
Nothing but bad comes out of supporting those anti-american companies that export jobs and products for mfg in other countries.
I read every label to see where mfg. and if in China or some other country, I will not purchase.
Great article in Popular Mechanics about business here in the US that are going strong and competing quite well if not acutually dominating foriegn countries and their products. Makes one proud and want to support, even more, U.S. companies that will not export jobs, etc. It helps the U.S. and we need those mfg companies on our soil. Solider on my insurance friends..Buy American made!
There is an upscale restaurant in Philly Susanna Foo. They purchase some Chinese mushrooms rather than those grown right in this area as the Chinese ones cost less, that is nutz.
There is a reason Chinese products are cheaper! If you want a well-made product, that you feel safe in giving your child, pay the extra and buy American. Otherwise, you get what you pay for.
You all can say what you want and think what you want, but in the end, it’s OUR fault. We have NO ONE to blame for this but our OWN CHEAP GREEDY selves. That’s what you should THINK about. Why is this country FILLED to CAPACITY with people who buy candy from the DOLLAR STORE? If no one bought the cheap stuff, our U.S. Companies wouldn’t order the crap from China. Hello?! I bet at least ONE of you that posted today bought a pool float from Walmart in the last year. How many people do you think were poisoned in the making of that float? I bet at least two of you didn’t buy an American-made piece of jewelry because it was “too expensive.” It’s the overall American purchasing mentality that is killing us. China is just the tool.
The only American-made product the rest of the world wants is our currency.
To all of you who seem to think we have alternatives in the marketplace to foreign-made products, get your heads out of either the clouds or the sand.
I lifted the following from an online article.
As reported by Reuters in July 2006, the White House is still projecting a 2006 budget deficit of $296 billion, despite increased tax revenue exceeding initial estimates. The U.S. current account deficit for 2005 reached a record $805 billion, or 6.4% of GDP, up 21% from 2004.
Our growing foreign trade deficit with China plus our continuing budget deficits put the Bush administration in an uncomfortable position. Increasingly the goods being sold by our top mass merchandisers are made in China, while at the same time we have to turn around and go into debt to China, forced to sell Treasury debt to China to subsidize our entitlement-payment heavy budget shortfalls.
Of outstanding marketable Treasury securities at the end of June 2006 totaling $4.254 trillion, approximately 49% were in the hands of foreign holders. Currently, China still holds approximately 70% of their foreign exchange dollar-denominated assets, including $327.7 billion invested in U.S. Treasury bonds as of Aug. 1, 2006, making China the second largest lender to the U.S., right after Japan (with $635.3 billion of foreign exchange holdings in U.S. Treasury bonds).
End of the extract.
And what exactly do you expect the Chinese to do with all those greenbacks? Haier is a manufacturing giant, with many home-oriented consumer products now being sold under their own name (check your local store flyers). In 2005 they tried to buy the Maytag man, only to be outbid by an American manufacturer who probably will not be able to withstand the debt load in the long run. Especially if their product isn’t price-competitive. Watch as Haier’s product line blossoms.
Remember Lucky Goldstar? They’re now LG Electronics – a market leader in flat-screen TV and consumer appliances, based out of South Korea. Hyundai used to be the punchline to a bad joke; now their cars compete favorably against segment leader Toyota. How long will it be before the Chinese follow?
Get used to it, America. Your option list is shrinking and we better figure out how and where to draw the line before the rest of the World owns us. Do not get upset over toys and candy, or what’s in your fast-delivery food. The Chinese will buy your mortgage companies and call all loans in. They can do a LOT with $327 billion.
They’are studying, exercising and eating vegetables and more traditional Chinese sweets for dessert. They’re growing up in a society that still produces something while we live in a society where most of us work in service industries and even those jobs are going to India. These defective items are often being made just for foreign markets and very cheaply for those of us who have become addicted to inexpensive products and think we should all be able to own everything.
Remember a time (some of you may be old enough) when there was one TV in the home, that was in the living room and families were lucky to have that? I remember what an event it was when we got our first color TV. Now I live alone and have four of them. People used to save to buy something which means they gave it some thought, looked at their budget, had a better sense of just what they were paying for that article. Now, we see it, we want it, we put down our plastic and figure out how to pay for it later (and pay 3 to 10 times what the item actually cost). We lament that the government can’t balance it’s budget but most of us aren’t balancing ours either. Save? For education? For a home? For retirement? “Can’t afford to” is the cry. But we can afford the latte at Starbucks every day, the latest PDA, computer, computer games like Wii fly off the shelves, new wide screen HDTVs, and everyone is walking around with an iPod stuck in their ear. I live in a development where the most expensive home price is south of $300,000 and 1/4 of the homes are being rented. Still, people are driving BMW 745is, Lexus, Mercedes S class, Jaguars. Homes generally (before this market) appreciate while autos always depreciate (unless you hold it long enough to become an antique and then you’ve put some much pain, energy and money into it, it’s a wash at best.) We take vacations we can’t afford. I heard the Tom Joyner cruise (which is part charity) costs approximately $3,500 per person. I am betting there is not a prayer that the demographics of the cruisers suggests couples who can afford $7,000 annually on a vacation. I don’t begrudge those individuals a vacation but when they get home are they in a position to be able to pay for their children’s education, live in decent neighborhoods with good schools and decent housing, prepare for their retirement, pay for their healthcare and healthcare insurance? Are their credit cards maxed out?
So, we live on borrowed money and we’re going to learn that we’re all on borrowed time. The rest of the world – be it Asia or the Middle East – will own most of America sooner than you think. We’re too enamored with our cheap goods to notice.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. How in the heck are we gonna change this trend? Unless those foreign countries will keep us as symbiotes…where’s the hope? Me personally, I am not on a high horse here, I am one of those living on borrowed everything, and I am ashamed. What’s the answer? I have no idea. It’s like thinking about space and it’s infinity.
Just like all developing industrial countries, the kids are playing in smogged air, live in garbage dumps and eat the cheapest available food: cabbage based dishes; I doubt if they could afford candy like what is exported to the USA.
I forgot to say that yes, there is a trade imbalance between the US and China but there is still a very large gap between the have’s and havenot’s in China too. Since they’ve embraced capitalism to an extent, there is big money to be had, just not redistributed to all. Not all Chinese are studying, and bettering themselves; lots still live at or below poverty level. At the same time, even a low paying job in China can improve the lot for the average Chinese which is why there is a movement from rural China to the urban metro areas; they move to the money just like Americans do.
You make mistakes when you lump together the Chinese people – good, hard-working, industrious folks living in conditions that seem Victorian to our sensibilities – with the Chinese government.
Most companies in China were owned by the government – privatized or from start-up since the Revolution. Even though foreign investment capital is permitted, frequently the largest “shareholder” in many operations is the government.
Things are different in Taiwan, or Hong Kong or other post-colonial regions, where private ownership is allowed. But to get to the biggest developing market in the world, you have to “partner-up” in order to get through the door.
The government doesn’t really care about human conditions, unless of course if it brings in money to be sickly-green. The Olympics in Beijing will probably be the one time when locals will be able to breathe clean(er) air – if there are any locals left after their lands are taken over for redevelopment through the Chinese version of Eminent Domain.
Prosperity is occurring in China, and there are more wealthy individuals than ever before, but their economic systems make Trickle Down theories look like Godspeak. It may never benefit the masses, who are after all somewhat disposable or at least easily replacable.
That’s why you see people trying to escape on boats, paying a year’s salary to smugglers. You don’t see folks from Central or South America (or, really, anywhere else) going to China for economic freedom.
Human rights and democracy. Two issues that will continue to be ignored by the manaufacturers of most of our products.
Is anybody paying attention to what’s happening in Dubai? There was a story on 60 Minutes a week or two ago. Something like 90% of the world’s cranes are in Dubai building their infrastructure. There’s oil under their shores. They are spending ridiculous money to pour sand into the ocean to build artificial land for resorts. They have a huge indoor ski resort that rivals some major ski resorts with natural snow. They make snow inside their resort where outside tempatures exceed 100 much of the time.
And they aren’t exactly our friends. They are friendly to us but the Sheik doesn’t agree with our foreign policy. They’re our friends like Russia, China and Japan are our friends. How long do we really think America will continue to be a superpower? Are we still a superpower? Are we doomed be become like Britain is now in the world stage?
Infant mortality is high about middle of the pack worldwide with 22.12 per 1,000 live births. But don’t let us get smug. At #37, we ahead of the Croatians but behind Taiwan, Cuba, Italy and the Czech Republic. With China large population they can frankly afford to care a little less about the fate of their children. We mostly give lip service to caring.
Most nations, other than Great Britain, are only going to be our “friend” as long as we serve their purposes.
We cant even make lollipops anymore?
Amazing.
what garbage they sell to us. They don’t care about the safety of their workers and they don’t care about the safety of our people.
Please please please buy American made products as often as possible. Even if you have to order on line.
Are they playing with lead-loaded toys and eating metal-spiked candy, too?
No, Chinese kids are busy MANUFACTURING lead-loaded toys and metal-spiked candy.
With ALL the junk you see coming into the US from China, has anyone thought about when they plan on sending something really leathal into our country, and killing thousands, instead of hurting a few?
THINK!
Why does our government even allow the import from China of food, toothpaste or any product that can be ingested into our system? Obviously there are no quality controls in place–and if controls are in place, somehow they are overlooked.
I never purchase any food product if I know it’s from China (or Vietnam), but what troubles me, is what I eat in a restaurant or other places…….
In the movie we said
Made in America, For Americans By Americans.
It seems so simple
I have, for several years now, avoided buying anything made in china. I did purchase some binoculars only to find out they were made in China and they were returned to the company selling them.
Nothing but bad comes out of supporting those anti-american companies that export jobs and products for mfg in other countries.
I read every label to see where mfg. and if in China or some other country, I will not purchase.
Great article in Popular Mechanics about business here in the US that are going strong and competing quite well if not acutually dominating foriegn countries and their products. Makes one proud and want to support, even more, U.S. companies that will not export jobs, etc. It helps the U.S. and we need those mfg companies on our soil. Solider on my insurance friends..Buy American made!
There is an upscale restaurant in Philly Susanna Foo. They purchase some Chinese mushrooms rather than those grown right in this area as the Chinese ones cost less, that is nutz.
There is a reason Chinese products are cheaper! If you want a well-made product, that you feel safe in giving your child, pay the extra and buy American. Otherwise, you get what you pay for.
You all can say what you want and think what you want, but in the end, it’s OUR fault. We have NO ONE to blame for this but our OWN CHEAP GREEDY selves. That’s what you should THINK about. Why is this country FILLED to CAPACITY with people who buy candy from the DOLLAR STORE? If no one bought the cheap stuff, our U.S. Companies wouldn’t order the crap from China. Hello?! I bet at least ONE of you that posted today bought a pool float from Walmart in the last year. How many people do you think were poisoned in the making of that float? I bet at least two of you didn’t buy an American-made piece of jewelry because it was “too expensive.” It’s the overall American purchasing mentality that is killing us. China is just the tool.
The only American-made product the rest of the world wants is our currency.
To all of you who seem to think we have alternatives in the marketplace to foreign-made products, get your heads out of either the clouds or the sand.
I lifted the following from an online article.
As reported by Reuters in July 2006, the White House is still projecting a 2006 budget deficit of $296 billion, despite increased tax revenue exceeding initial estimates. The U.S. current account deficit for 2005 reached a record $805 billion, or 6.4% of GDP, up 21% from 2004.
Our growing foreign trade deficit with China plus our continuing budget deficits put the Bush administration in an uncomfortable position. Increasingly the goods being sold by our top mass merchandisers are made in China, while at the same time we have to turn around and go into debt to China, forced to sell Treasury debt to China to subsidize our entitlement-payment heavy budget shortfalls.
Of outstanding marketable Treasury securities at the end of June 2006 totaling $4.254 trillion, approximately 49% were in the hands of foreign holders. Currently, China still holds approximately 70% of their foreign exchange dollar-denominated assets, including $327.7 billion invested in U.S. Treasury bonds as of Aug. 1, 2006, making China the second largest lender to the U.S., right after Japan (with $635.3 billion of foreign exchange holdings in U.S. Treasury bonds).
End of the extract.
And what exactly do you expect the Chinese to do with all those greenbacks? Haier is a manufacturing giant, with many home-oriented consumer products now being sold under their own name (check your local store flyers). In 2005 they tried to buy the Maytag man, only to be outbid by an American manufacturer who probably will not be able to withstand the debt load in the long run. Especially if their product isn’t price-competitive. Watch as Haier’s product line blossoms.
Remember Lucky Goldstar? They’re now LG Electronics – a market leader in flat-screen TV and consumer appliances, based out of South Korea. Hyundai used to be the punchline to a bad joke; now their cars compete favorably against segment leader Toyota. How long will it be before the Chinese follow?
Get used to it, America. Your option list is shrinking and we better figure out how and where to draw the line before the rest of the World owns us. Do not get upset over toys and candy, or what’s in your fast-delivery food. The Chinese will buy your mortgage companies and call all loans in. They can do a LOT with $327 billion.
Welcome to the New World.
Finally! A person that actually knows what’s going on! I love you, man.
They’are studying, exercising and eating vegetables and more traditional Chinese sweets for dessert. They’re growing up in a society that still produces something while we live in a society where most of us work in service industries and even those jobs are going to India. These defective items are often being made just for foreign markets and very cheaply for those of us who have become addicted to inexpensive products and think we should all be able to own everything.
Remember a time (some of you may be old enough) when there was one TV in the home, that was in the living room and families were lucky to have that? I remember what an event it was when we got our first color TV. Now I live alone and have four of them. People used to save to buy something which means they gave it some thought, looked at their budget, had a better sense of just what they were paying for that article. Now, we see it, we want it, we put down our plastic and figure out how to pay for it later (and pay 3 to 10 times what the item actually cost). We lament that the government can’t balance it’s budget but most of us aren’t balancing ours either. Save? For education? For a home? For retirement? “Can’t afford to” is the cry. But we can afford the latte at Starbucks every day, the latest PDA, computer, computer games like Wii fly off the shelves, new wide screen HDTVs, and everyone is walking around with an iPod stuck in their ear. I live in a development where the most expensive home price is south of $300,000 and 1/4 of the homes are being rented. Still, people are driving BMW 745is, Lexus, Mercedes S class, Jaguars. Homes generally (before this market) appreciate while autos always depreciate (unless you hold it long enough to become an antique and then you’ve put some much pain, energy and money into it, it’s a wash at best.) We take vacations we can’t afford. I heard the Tom Joyner cruise (which is part charity) costs approximately $3,500 per person. I am betting there is not a prayer that the demographics of the cruisers suggests couples who can afford $7,000 annually on a vacation. I don’t begrudge those individuals a vacation but when they get home are they in a position to be able to pay for their children’s education, live in decent neighborhoods with good schools and decent housing, prepare for their retirement, pay for their healthcare and healthcare insurance? Are their credit cards maxed out?
So, we live on borrowed money and we’re going to learn that we’re all on borrowed time. The rest of the world – be it Asia or the Middle East – will own most of America sooner than you think. We’re too enamored with our cheap goods to notice.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. How in the heck are we gonna change this trend? Unless those foreign countries will keep us as symbiotes…where’s the hope? Me personally, I am not on a high horse here, I am one of those living on borrowed everything, and I am ashamed. What’s the answer? I have no idea. It’s like thinking about space and it’s infinity.
Just like all developing industrial countries, the kids are playing in smogged air, live in garbage dumps and eat the cheapest available food: cabbage based dishes; I doubt if they could afford candy like what is exported to the USA.
I forgot to say that yes, there is a trade imbalance between the US and China but there is still a very large gap between the have’s and havenot’s in China too. Since they’ve embraced capitalism to an extent, there is big money to be had, just not redistributed to all. Not all Chinese are studying, and bettering themselves; lots still live at or below poverty level. At the same time, even a low paying job in China can improve the lot for the average Chinese which is why there is a movement from rural China to the urban metro areas; they move to the money just like Americans do.
You make mistakes when you lump together the Chinese people – good, hard-working, industrious folks living in conditions that seem Victorian to our sensibilities – with the Chinese government.
Most companies in China were owned by the government – privatized or from start-up since the Revolution. Even though foreign investment capital is permitted, frequently the largest “shareholder” in many operations is the government.
Things are different in Taiwan, or Hong Kong or other post-colonial regions, where private ownership is allowed. But to get to the biggest developing market in the world, you have to “partner-up” in order to get through the door.
The government doesn’t really care about human conditions, unless of course if it brings in money to be sickly-green. The Olympics in Beijing will probably be the one time when locals will be able to breathe clean(er) air – if there are any locals left after their lands are taken over for redevelopment through the Chinese version of Eminent Domain.
Prosperity is occurring in China, and there are more wealthy individuals than ever before, but their economic systems make Trickle Down theories look like Godspeak. It may never benefit the masses, who are after all somewhat disposable or at least easily replacable.
That’s why you see people trying to escape on boats, paying a year’s salary to smugglers. You don’t see folks from Central or South America (or, really, anywhere else) going to China for economic freedom.
Human rights and democracy. Two issues that will continue to be ignored by the manaufacturers of most of our products.
Again, get used to it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/sports/othersports/09olympics.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Is anybody paying attention to what’s happening in Dubai? There was a story on 60 Minutes a week or two ago. Something like 90% of the world’s cranes are in Dubai building their infrastructure. There’s oil under their shores. They are spending ridiculous money to pour sand into the ocean to build artificial land for resorts. They have a huge indoor ski resort that rivals some major ski resorts with natural snow. They make snow inside their resort where outside tempatures exceed 100 much of the time.
And they aren’t exactly our friends. They are friendly to us but the Sheik doesn’t agree with our foreign policy. They’re our friends like Russia, China and Japan are our friends. How long do we really think America will continue to be a superpower? Are we still a superpower? Are we doomed be become like Britain is now in the world stage?
Infant mortality is high about middle of the pack worldwide with 22.12 per 1,000 live births. But don’t let us get smug. At #37, we ahead of the Croatians but behind Taiwan, Cuba, Italy and the Czech Republic. With China large population they can frankly afford to care a little less about the fate of their children. We mostly give lip service to caring.
Most nations, other than Great Britain, are only going to be our “friend” as long as we serve their purposes.