 They're poisoning our kids again....
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Old Hand
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OP
Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Turns out the stuff that sticks the very popular 'Aqua beads' toy together is chemically similar to the also popular 'date rape' drug. Kids go into a coma if they swallow the beads. You'll never guess what country this stuff is made in.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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At the risk of turning this into a political thread, I have to ask....
When are we going to stop buying stuff from China?
Toys, Tires, Pet food, What else?
Do they need stricter standards on the items they export? Are the companies, like Mattel, to blame for sending this stuff to China or not specifying higher quality materials?
I don't know what the answer is, but in recent months I have become more conscious of the products we buy and where they come from, and will be paying even more attention this upcoming gift giving season.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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I hate to say it but you're going to find it extremely difficult not to buy products that aren't influenced (if not totally made) by Chinese Manufacturing. We've been a stupid nation and gone for profit over substance, we're about to start earning the interest now.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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 Sorry Stewart, I hate to say it, but as long as it is cheaper to make stuff over there, and our Congress kowtows solely to business, and people continue to be apathetic to such things, it won't stop. When gas prices shot up to 300% of their prices just before 9/11, did people stop buying SUV's or driving less? Not really. There was a brief hiccup in SUV sales and people reduced unnecessary driving for a while, but then it seems everyone has become acclimatized to paying $3 a gallon (or resigned to it), and now people grouse, but have otherwise gone back to old habits. I hate to sound like a pessimist, but human nature is to take the cheapest/easiest way out. If we hated how much the Chinese pirate stuff, ship tainted stuff in, or abused human rights, we sure show it by awarding them the Olympics, modifying policies to suit them (for instance with Yahoo basically kowtowing to the Chinese Politburo on providing the names of e-mail account holders to the Chinese authorities, so that dissidents could be arrested), and stuff like that. Shoot, after the last recall by Mattel, the President of Mattel APOLOGIZED to the Chinese government because a couple products were affected by the recall that weren't really defective (that we know of). That tells me right there, where Mattels (and other company's) priorities are. I just don't see this trend changing. It's like we see this freight train coming, but we don't want to, or can't move out of the way. People see more and more jobs being outsourced to China or Mexico, and you hear the talking heads talking ad nauseum on TV about it, so it's no secret, but no one seems to flinch when Maytag shuts down it's plant and moves it to China. People still flock to buy Maytags. We are pretty much making ourselves a 2nd rate power just to satisfy Wall Street. OK, enough, my blood is boiling now (as it is every time I get on this subject..) 
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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$3.00 a gallon, Funkletrumpet paid £1.11($2.22) for a litre on Sunday and the price is set to rise again, don't you love our government.
The majority of childrens toys are made in China and as the run up towards Christmas (er sorry holiday season) begins, they will be plenty that need to be sorted out..
Ray(UK)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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I saw on the news it isn't the stuff that sticks them it's the beads themselves. Once ingested they make that drug in the process of being digested. So they really had no way of knowing this unless they tested to see what compounds were made in the act of digesting the beads. Still sucks, still think buying everything from China is a bad idea, still think not buying American is bad etc... But as Ed says you would be hard pressed to find things not at least partly made there. Even Hershey is closing down and moving over seas! We are close to being a 3rd world country and getting closer every day!
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I never thought about it but it seems you people in England have basicly the same issues in this area as we do. I was just rereading and Birchr and when he said don't you love our gov't it kind of highlighted the fact he could have been talking about ours as well.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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We dont want to put Wally world out of business now do we?
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yes you are darn right we DO!
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
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Quote:
We are pretty much making ourselves a 2nd rate power just to satisfy Wall Street.
I have to say it's getting to be an ugly corner we've painted ourselves into and it doesn't appear that the paint will be dry anytime soon... it's going to be a sad day when free enterprise results in us no longer being free
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Everyone chooses where they spend their money. Over the years individual consumers have chosen to buy goods made in China because they were cheaper. If we want to see who is responsible for the current situation I suggest we all go to our bathrooms and look in the mirror.
Wal Mart, Kmart, Cosco and other retailers didn’t make our buying choices, we did. Unless we are willing to spend extra to buy goods not made there, and follow it up by actually doing it, we should quit complaining about the situation.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,248 Likes: 64 |
That is true and not true at the same time. I used to try and buy American made but it got increasingly harder over the years and now nearly impossible. I used to pay more for the better quality. Bearings I always looked for Garmany,USA, or UK but now most are Japan or Korea even from names that were made in one of the 3 countries mentioned.I wish it was possible to not shop at Wal Mart but it isn't unless I wanna go broke. I do buy what I can at other stores or if the cost is close I buy elsewhere even if I have to travel farther. I have a big problem with Wal Marts business practices and I believe that is partly to blame for the move to China. When you have a retailer with that much power (that we gave them) that can dictate what they will pay and low ball you so badly that you can't afford to produce in the USA what choice do you have if you want to stay in business?
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Its not about paying extra for stuff not made there. Its about profit margin. If they raised the price 20% on an item not made there, once the price was fixed and stable they would move production to there anyhow without reducing the price. Its about tariffs and the lack of them. You need to make it cost effective to make stuff in your own country while supporting the country with tariff on imports. Many may have heard the terms but not understood "trade imbalance" "trade deficit" etc. Out congress is for sale to the highest bidder. Its not china's fault, or Thailand's for that matter. 
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
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Quote:
Everyone chooses where they spend their money.
Assuming they have enough disposable income to make a rational choice.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
"Why aren't we just bombing China already?" - Adam Carolla, in response to this news story and every other news story like it over the past few months.
He's got a point...
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
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I hate everything about wal-mart, I hate the people who shop there and the people who work there....but I cant afford to shop anywhere else. For awhile it bothered me, but now I just say fk it all.
Me spending $4 more on batteries somewhere else isnt gonna change anything...all this crap was on its way out the door before I was born and there nothing I myself can do to stop it. If there was some huge rally/boycott and everyone was involved and I actually thought it would do something, I'd participate...but thats not gonna happen.
I heard this all my life...my dads a union carpenter so he has this special union catalog that just sells clothes made in the USA. We boycotted walmart, mcdonalds, burger king everywhere for not building with union labor. I grew up wearing the dumbest clothes ever invented because the tag said USA on it.
My mom had to rent a car because her GMC pickup was in the shop...they gave her a nissan car and as she was driving down the road she burst into tears because she was driving a "foreign car"...she turned around traded it back and paid more money for a ford taurus. God only knows how much more or less American the taurus was compared to the nissan...(which i asked her)...but it didnt matter cause it was a "NISSAN"
All this crazy boycotting and hysteria didnt do a bit a good for anyone or anything..all it did was put their money in some other guys pocket who probably didnt care about them either. Theyre just polishing the brass on the titanic cause its all going down.
Maybe one day my job wont exist cause it'll be outsourced. Maybe I "wanted" too much money?...Nothing I can do about that so why bother worrying about it.
Of course.. I do agree that China should have stricter standards with making toys safe...get what you pay for I guess.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Generally true but the reason it won't ever happen is because everyone thinks that just 1 person won't make a difference. Yes I shop at Wal Mart but same as you for some things I can't afford to go anywhere else. I buy as much as I can at Shop Rite or other similar store owned by a local guy. Here his name is Bill and he does his best to compete but in some cases can't. His meats are far superior so I pay more for them but all the prepackaged stuff is pretty much the same so I buy as much of that stuff as I can afford there but some things are 2 to 3 times the price and I simply can't afford that. It's just like when I buy stuff at Harbor Freight, I hate doing it but can't afford the alternative in most cases.I am happy with the stuff I get there some is good stuff some is junk but so cheap I can buy 3 or 4 and still save money.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Why Tom, I'm SHOCKED!!! Are you telling me that Corporate America, sponsored by those hardy souls who just LOVE to waive the old Red, White and Blue at every turn, all the while breaking every union job in existence is...is...selling out to the LOWEST BIDDER, so a gulible and apathetic buying public can purchase their comsumer goods at "bargain prices" without any regard to a "social consciousness" that there may be people in some far off lands getting paid PEANUTS for their labor, but don't really care that much because, well gee, "it could cost me a few bucks more to buy that widget afterall, ya know?!" Oh please tell me that you're kidding here! I don't think I can take hearing this!!!  (okay, did I just explain this WHOLE phenomenon here in a nutshell or not???) The way I figure it, Comsumerism is just like everything else in life...you should use moderation as your guide. But it appears we have gone WAY OVERBOARD in this country when it comes to ACQUISITION and MATERIALISM. And we also appear to be teaching this "mega-keeping up with the Jones" philosophy more and more to every new american generation. In other words, we ameicans now seem to make gods of the ungodly wealthy, and those so-called "winners" who use any method available to them regardless of who's expense it ultimately falls upon in order to "get ahead"!!! (even though as far as I know he has nothing whatsoever to do with Wally World, I'm now visualizing this one particular jerkfaced dude who sports a combover and is probably now most famous for uttering with those stupid protruding lips of' his.."YOU'RE FIRED!") MODERATION PEOPLE! MODERATION! (but I know I'm "preaching to the choir" here, aren't I folks?)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Now, while I'm doing okay(financially, that is), I guess we should just let those in power continue to do as they will, huh?! I mean, "A raising tide raises all boats.", right?!(thanks Ronnie!) (the only problem is, I know a heck of a lot of americans nowdays who's dingies appear to be capsizing) Yeah! I say give those with all the money MORE tax breaks, and less oversight! (yep! that's the ticket, alright!) 
Last edited by Dwight; 11/08/2007 6:28 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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You are going to get in trouble starting another Thailand thread......
.....just kidding, heard China on the news (well, not exactly the news, Opie & Anthony were having some fun with the story).
Al
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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I won't darken Wal-Mart's door.
Whenever possible, I patronize local small businesses/franchises even though they may have to charge more.
I look where things are made, and if I have any option at all I won't buy anything made in China.
Ya see, convictions are worthless without action.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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I agree. I stay away more and more. Our toy business is almost all made in China we have no choice there.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
Our toy business is almost all made in China we have no choice there.
Well, at least don't eat 'em dude. 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
Quote:
Generally true but the reason it won't ever happen is because everyone thinks that just 1 person won't make a difference. Yes I shop at Wal Mart but same as you for some things I can't afford to go anywhere else. I buy as much as I can at Shop Rite or other similar store owned by a local guy. Here his name is Bill and he does his best to compete but in some cases can't. His meats are far superior so I pay more for them but all the prepackaged stuff is pretty much the same so I buy as much of that stuff as I can afford there but some things are 2 to 3 times the price and I simply can't afford that. It's just like when I buy stuff at Harbor Freight, I hate doing it but can't afford the alternative in most cases.I am happy with the stuff I get there some is good stuff some is junk but so cheap I can buy 3 or 4 and still save money.
See I dont think the problem is everyones saying "what can I do Im one person".....the problem is the people that dont even realize whats happening at all...this crap isnt all over the news and in the media...theres no football star wearing a shirt that says "buy american", theres no pop stars singing about this crap (country dont count)
So theres tons out there too interested in their cell phone ring tones and their ipod playlist and getting toothpaste for under a $1.
So fuk em all, I need gas money cause I need to get to work while its still there.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
Quote:
Why Tom, I'm SHOCKED!!!
Are you telling me that Corporate America, sponsored by those hardy souls who just LOVE to waive the old Red, White and Blue at every turn, all the while breaking every union job in existence is...is...selling out to the LOWEST BIDDER, so a gulible and apathetic buying public can purchase their comsumer goods at "bargain prices" without any regard to a "social consciousness" that there may be people in some far off lands getting paid PEANUTS for their labor, but don't really care that much because, well gee, "it could cost me a few bucks more to buy that widget afterall, ya know?!"
Oh please tell me that you're kidding here! I don't think I can take hearing this!!!
(okay, did I just explain this WHOLE phenomenon here in a nutshell or not???)
The way I figure it, Comsumerism is just like everything else in life...you should use moderation as your guide.
But it appears we have gone WAY OVERBOARD in this country when it comes to ACQUISITION and MATERIALISM. And we also appear to be teaching this "mega-keeping up with the Jones" philosophy more and more to every new american generation.
In other words, we ameicans now seem to make gods of the ungodly wealthy, and those so-called "winners" who use any method available to them regardless of who's expense it ultimately falls upon in order to "get ahead"!!!
(even though as far as I know he has nothing whatsoever to do with Wally World, I'm now visualizing this one particular jerkfaced dude who sports a combover and is probably now most famous for uttering with those stupid protruding lips of' his.."YOU'RE FIRED!")
MODERATION PEOPLE! MODERATION!
(but I know I'm "preaching to the choir" here, aren't I folks?)
Dwight?...yeh or neh?
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Posts: 760
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Posts: 760 |
Well guys, I bought a pair of walking shoes last night. I tried at Sears and they were all made in China. So, I told them if they don't have some made elswhere, I guess I don't need them. I went to another store, The Foot Locker, and told them I want a pair of walking shoes, but no made in China. I will not support our future enemy. Well they found some New Balance shoes made in the USA.
Dave
04 SpeedMaster, Windvest Screen, Leatherworks Bags.
F&AM, WM 3 times
Rifle & Pistol Competitor
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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You know the funny thing is, now that the dollar is abyssmally low (it now takes $1.08 to buy $1 Canadian!), the pundits on CNN/FOX and Wall Street, etc... are confused as to why American exports aren't up! DOH, all of our exportables are manufactured in CHINA, so there isn't much other countries want from us regarding manufactured goods! If the Chinese want a good that we have here in the US, they will just pirate it and manufacture it there and it will still cost less, or American companies manufacturing there will sell it there cheaper (since then you don't have transoceanic shipping). What DO we have that we export? Computers, nope, mainly made in Asia. Cars, nope, got them too. Machine Tools, most are made somewhere overseas now, most Machine Tools in the US are now remanufactured/refurbished. Aircraft, well, yeah, we can sell more Boeings.
Of course, these same pundits said that $3 a gallon gas wouldn't seriously slow down the economy either (with a complete disregard for the reality that high gas prices would sooner or later filter down into EVERY single thing we buy! DUH!)...
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
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BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN! Say the guys riding English bikes 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Well, I do prefer buying from our British brothers as opposed to Communist China. Freedom and all that, you know?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
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Me too. But this is beginning to remind me of my union carpenter brother who chides me for riding a Triumph rather than a US made Harley while he drives a Dodge truck (assembled in Mexico) talks on his cell phone (made in China) wears his favorite jeans (made in Thailand) and plays with his electronic goodies (mostly made in Asia)
Protectionism has always been an economic disaster. The way to change things around is personal choice. As long as the vast majority of people shop mainly by price we will have goods made where it's cheaper to make them. The American worker has always been the most productive in the world but when an unskilled union laborer is paid $80K a year we shouldn't be surprised when the work is sent off shore. Our education system is steadily loosing ground when it comes to making our kids competitive, our tax system punishes risk takers, many of our politicians demean and disparage those who create employment opportunities and we all want the good life without making much effort to attain it. Much of the press ignores positive economic news for political reasons, joining with politicians who hope to benefit by spreading fear and despair. If we want to prosper we need to do it individually.
Here are some opportunities. Start a toy manufacturing company in the USA. Open a good chroming business that does good work and meets it deadlines. Invest in Vanson leathers or some other high end jacket company that makes its products here.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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The tax system quit punishing risk takers a long time ago but that's nice O'Reilly/Limbaugh drivel. Not rewarding a Communist nation by making it a trading partner is not protectionism, it's common sense. Of course, that's a lot harder to achieve when the President's brother is China's top lobbyist.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
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Quote:
Me too. But this is beginning to remind me of my union carpenter brother who chides me for riding a Triumph rather than a US made Harley while he drives a Dodge truck (assembled in Mexico) talks on his cell phone (made in China) wears his favorite jeans (made in Thailand) and plays with his electronic goodies (mostly made in Asia)
Protectionism has always been an economic disaster. The way to change things around is personal choice. As long as the vast majority of people shop mainly by price we will have goods made where it's cheaper to make them. The American worker has always been the most productive in the world but when an unskilled union laborer is paid $80K a year we shouldn't be surprised when the work is sent off shore. Our education system is steadily loosing ground when it comes to making our kids competitive, our tax system punishes risk takers, many of our politicians demean and disparage those who create employment opportunities and we all want the good life without making much effort to attain it. Much of the press ignores positive economic news for political reasons, joining with politicians who hope to benefit by spreading fear and despair. If we want to prosper we need to do it individually.
Here are some opportunities. Start a toy manufacturing company in the USA. Open a good chroming business that does good work and meets it deadlines. Invest in Vanson leathers or some other high end jacket company that makes its products here.
your brother needs to get the union catalog...ahah
That whole "be american buy american" thing is a joke, cause you cant expect america to the be the best anything. So that whole mindset is basically saying "buy an inferior product with your money because its your hometeam"
"No thanks"
Ive only ever owned gmc's and chevy's my whole life because of how i was raised...but I wouldnt be caught dead buying or driving a late model GM vehicle now-a-days. Theyve been losing so much business lately that their product is definately suffering. I test drove a new high end model colorado once and the interior, gauges, dash was all so cheap...the seats were no-frills...it was bad. I couldnt help thinking "if this is what I can see on the surface, how many corners were cut in the drivetrain?"
Now Im not picky about seats and power everything, but my early model blazer had more bells and whisltes at the midlevel model than this "SLE" or whatever.
How can we tell ourselves to go for substance over value, when all the major american companies have sold us down the river already. Theyre all buying the cheapest components they can get away with from whatever country, and slapping a USA logo on it, and guilting us for buying cheap or foreign.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,954
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,954 |
Quote:
Me too. But this is beginning to remind me of my union carpenter brother who chides me for riding a Triumph rather than a US made Harley while he drives a Dodge truck (assembled in Mexico) talks on his cell phone (made in China) wears his favorite jeans (made in Thailand) and plays with his electronic goodies (mostly made in Asia)
Protectionism has always been an economic disaster. The way to change things around is personal choice. As long as the vast majority of people shop mainly by price we will have goods made where it's cheaper to make them. The American worker has always been the most productive in the world but when an unskilled union laborer is paid $80K a year we shouldn't be surprised when the work is sent off shore. Our education system is steadily loosing ground when it comes to making our kids competitive, our tax system punishes risk takers, many of our politicians demean and disparage those who create employment opportunities and we all want the good life without making much effort to attain it. Much of the press ignores positive economic news for political reasons, joining with politicians who hope to benefit by spreading fear and despair. If we want to prosper we need to do it individually.
Here are some opportunities. Start a toy manufacturing company in the USA. Open a good chroming business that does good work and meets it deadlines. Invest in Vanson leathers or some other high end jacket company that makes its products here.
There's only one fly in the ointment here Larry. At most big corporations, such as FORD or GM, etc..., the Purchasing Agents who are responsible for sourcing components for assembly, are judged SOLELY on the amount of money that they can save on the components that they are responsible for. I've personally seen this up close, where they consider it acceptable to bring major components into a product from Mexico, for example, with a 300 ppm(parts per million, or defects per million which is how most industries measure defects) defect rate. Well, customers such as FORD DEMAND a 0 ppm defect rate on the parts that they buy from us. That means that the manufacturing floor becomes the filter for all of these defects (not to mention when the defect somehow reaches the customer), which of course, drives up manufacturing costs significantly in the US. But this is completely normal and encouraged ACROSS THE BOARD by Purchasing Managers at the Big 3, and I suspect at other companies outside of the Automotive Industry. It's not just the consumers causing the problem, but a mindset in corporate America to buy the cheapest from WHEREVER you can get it, because the end customer is always pushing for price cuts (even if consumers aren't, since when is the last time the price of the next model year car has gone DOWN?!), and the easy way is always to go to China/Mexico/Eastern Europe. And despite the mantra from everyone that QUALITY is first, the truth is simply that COST is first, ALWAYS.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527 |
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I won't darken Wal-Mart's door.
Whenever possible, I patronize local small businesses/franchises even though they may have to charge more.
I look where things are made, and if I have any option at all I won't buy anything made in China.
Ya see, convictions are worthless without action.
I shop at Wally World...its a pain sometimes but I feel at best I am doing my best to support handicapped peoples because one thing for sure beyond any doubt...
"Walmart Hires the handicapped"....in droves.
LOL
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
I won't darken Wal-Mart's door.
Whenever possible, I patronize local small businesses/franchises even though they may have to charge more.
I look where things are made, and if I have any option at all I won't buy anything made in China.
Ya see, convictions are worthless without action.
Outstanding.
Last night I had to walk out of Lowe's because the light switches they were selling were made in China. I simply will not buy stuff made in China if it can at all be avoided. Overwhelmingly, I seek out US-made or at least European-made products.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Quote:
I won't darken Wal-Mart's door.
Whenever possible, I patronize local small businesses/franchises even though they may have to charge more.
I look where things are made, and if I have any option at all I won't buy anything made in China.
Ya see, convictions are worthless without action.
Overwhelmingly, I seek out US-made or at least European-made products.
 +1
I check as much as I can possibly on the source and favor North American and European goods. Had to give my LL Bean and Duluth Trading habit due tothis but at least Sierra Traders lists the country of origin so you can support like minded countries.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
We've ruled, regulated & taxed the majority of US manufacturing & business into a financial black hole. Between the feds, the states, insurance companies and the fuel companies, we're swirling the proverbial bowl.
At the same time, we've built the world's most efficient conduit for the distribution of Asian goods via international containerized modal freight. Ever see the container trains moving east from Long Beach? They are literally miles and miles long - all stuffed to the gills with import product.
After 102 years in the transportation business, yesterday we shut down the family business, which was the longest surviving motor carrier fleet in the state of CT.
Going out of business within CT is indeed, a blessing in disguise.
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
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when an unskilled union laborer is paid $80K a year
Where is this guy?
Union laborers here get (not counting overtime) about 45,000 per year. And they're among the highest paid.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: They're poisoning our kids again....
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,248 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,248 Likes: 64 |
I feel the pain. My towing co. is hard to make money at. Between the crazy insurance costs and now the price of fuel plus upkeep on my truck and my taxes I barely break even.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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