Chinese Goods

I recieved the following email today... scroll down for my response to it...

EMAIL:

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear or is it that we just do not think? While the Chinese, nowingly and intentionally, export inferior products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration for perceived errors. Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF!! 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, however 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. If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. ** Downside ?? The solution ? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. We will not implement this UNTIL June 4, and we will only continue it until July 4. 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 will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. Remember, June 4 to July 4. Send this to everybody you know. Show them we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on America !!!

MY RESPONSE:

The following items on my work desk are made in China: Computer Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, My computer is an HP (American company but they outsource manufacturing to China), Swingline Staplers, Calculator, Paperclip dishes, Staple puller, Post-it note dispenser, Engineering scale Scissors, Highlighters...At this point I stopped looking…

The ONLY USA made products I have on my desk are Digitizer (computer equipment), Tape dispenser, Masking tape, Hand Lotion

SO, although I’m more than happy to stop buying $20 of Chinese plastic widgits, unless I stop WORKING, all Americans will continue to buy and use Chinese goods. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but I feel given this simple example of what I’m using literally as I type, that the government will HAVE to step up and start boycotting Chinese goods, and start promoting more US businesses to IN-source all of this crap we are using every day to make our money and live our lives.

Stepping off my soapbox now…

p.s. I’ll do my part and stay away from the Oriental Trading catalog HA HA. If you know what catalog I’m talking about you will find this funny – it’s chock full of Chinese plastic widgits.

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