Blogs > 1ClassyLady > U r responsible for ur life


1ClassyLady 68F
3126 posts
11/1/2012 8:54 pm
Made in USA? or Made in China?

I received a forwarding email on 8/9/12. (A little bit of my background. I've emigrated to Calif from Taiwan in 1980, so my first 25 years was in Taiwan and 32 years in USA.)

Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were made in China. Her will recognize her in the following.

Did you 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 USA . There 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 WAL-MART 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 the 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 !! Yes you can!!
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, 2012 START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap (and keep in mind, they are not cheap!!)Chinese goods for one month out of our lives,WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, America ...
Well, come to think of it, instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time.

My reply to the sender with email that read as below. I also forward to my other friends.

It may sounds good from the surface, but do you have any Apple products??? iPod, iPhone, iPad, iMac, ..... all made in China (FoxConn) due to cheap labor to save cost from competition. Are Apple products with "Apple" logo count as American made or Chinese??? I always buy my dresses at Macy as long as I like the style and material, but I don't care where that cloth made. Macy made money and Macy is an American company. Wal-Mart is the one has been the target for criticism that using "made in China" to keep price down. Do you shop at Wal-Mart, Apple, or Macy?? I do. Do you drive Japanese Car? or Mercedes Benz from Germany? Let's think it over.

Many of my friends responded. (they are all Caucasian/White)
#1.
Why should we care who makes an item. It makes me sick that we try to set standards for other countries. They don't like it and I do not blame them.
#2.
AH ME... ALL MY APPLE STUFF IS PROBABLY MADE IN CHINA, AND PROBABLY MY HP STUFF TOO.

NOT SURE ABOUT MY ALOHA SHIRTS... AH.... THEY ARE MADE IN HAWAII...

BUT I BOUGHT THEM AT WAL-MART HERE. I DRIVE A TOYOTA CAMRY, 1996. I HAVE LOTS OF CHINESE TOOLS.
#3. (the sender)
Of course I drive a Subaru, bought from an American dealership through an American, but unlikeable salesman, and the service staff is all American...not undocumented aliens. I have had prior American cars, but found many faults done by American union workers. At least the Subaru is a quality product built by the pride of the workers...even though Japanese. (It seems that American cars have only advanced in quality/durability by this "foreign" influence). And I always buy the best product that I can, no matter who makes it! Hopefully our American built product will be superior, then I will buy it!

BTW: My Fuji bicycle is Japanese, but made in China, imported and sold by the American Company Performance Bicycle. I electrified it from an Australian Company who ordered the components from China (Hong Kong).The quality is good, and I would have bought it from an American, but there is none made here![

I wrote back to #3 (#3 is the original sender)
You are a Jew, but riding a BMW motorcycle. German killed million of Jews. I'm perplexed.

Diane Sawyer's theory is patriotism or chauvinist??? Recently the Olympics team uniform was discovered "Made in China", and the congressman and media made a big criticism and finally changed to "Made in USA". I think Boeing and GE are the most "Made in USA" companies. (I wonder their components are all made in USA?) I think we can't stop buying foreign country made products, but USA need to improve the "labor union" vs capitalist relationship.

Can we ask Diane Sawyer own any Apple products?? Driving Ford or GM cars only??

#3 replied

How far back in time do we carry grudges? If so, the Romans enslaved everyone, but I still will buy wine from Italy. Later the Catholic Church burned "non Christians" at the stake. Japan and Germany were our enemies in WW II. Etc. History is full of unfairness, but it seems that time dulls human memories! And then we all buy from the best at the time, no matter the history/source! (Ex: Apple )

My conclusion is
Now, look around your house, how many products that made in USA and how many products made in China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, ......What kind of car are you driving? We can't just buy "Made in USA" products, or can we?
Honesty is the best policy.


beyondfantasy3 113M
4740 posts
11/10/2012 10:54 am

 On the contrary the funds the USA raised from selling treasury bonds to China was vital to USA

this is based on the policies after World War II, when nations could not buy US goods, they were to buy bonds...
If and as China become a nation that can match its importing to balance with their exporting, then they will not be under the mandate to buy US Bonds, but until that time, they are obligated to buy those bonds, or open up and began to import to match their exports.


beyondfantasy3 113M
4740 posts
11/2/2012 4:57 am

 one may buy something with anyone's label on it, but the components within it can come from 100's of different places. Manufactures, will buy their components from whom ever will sell it cheaper.

I think if people want to deal with trade realities, then 'don't buy into the delusion that you will get the product cheaper just because it was made in China.
the cost you pay, become far greater, if that same pair of Nike shoes was made in USA, and you paid the same $100. it could be produced in America and pay workers a quality life salary to make it and still at $100 the producer would still make a profit.

The matter now, is companies are looking at making 1000% + profits, by selling foreign goods with prices as if they had been produced here.
If they go back to realizing that this level of profit gouging does not benefit the nation nor the people, then jobs will come back to America.
That 1000% profit means, cities crumbles, roads crumble and the quality of American cities crumble and the only thing is generates is billionaires, who hoard money that would otherwise be in the hands of the American people paid to them as salary.

with technology, paying workers $20 an hour to make the shoe, when they can produce 100's of shoes an hour, would prove to the American people that it is not cheaper to produce it in China, when the sales price of the unit is the same or higher than if it had been produced in America, when you account for the 1000%+ mark up on the sales price.

American people got duped by greedy corporations and politicians were paid off with campaign contribution to sell this bill of delusion to the America people, while factories closed and shipped jobs out of the country.

America people are all to eager to listen to thing from the mouths of people who profit from selling delusions. today, people are too prone to swallow anything wealthy people say. When many of them are far less of the integrity that the average person aspires to pursue.

When Americans learn not to kiss the butts of wealthy people, then they will have their eyes opened and not be so easily duped.

Scammer and swindlers dupe people by the illusions of wealth by playing on the greed angle of people, but when people get past the greed driven mentalities, they will again began to see things in a far different light.