exphoneman:  Hi!  I recently posted the following:

Re: Bed bug horror stories & other horrors  -

  " We boycott unacceptable products from other sources, why not boycott products from China?  When I am shopping for anything that comes in contact with food or a product that is absorbed through the skin, such as lotions or shampoo,  both for me and my pets,  and I see it was made in China, I put it back on the shelf......"

Someone liked the idea and suggested starting a new thread.  Since this topic was originally your idea ( "Toys Recalled...."), I'm wondering if it might be better to reuse yours to encourage citizens take an active part in correcting this situation.  Obviously, the politicians in Washington aren't  going to do much until we do something that grabs their attention.  A "Silent Protest" by motivated private individuals can bring changes.  A lot a people are feeling frustrated about this issue and may also have some very workable ideas.

What do you think?  Thanks.
 

peace2u:

exphoneman:  Hi!  I recently posted the following:

Re: Bed bug horror stories & other horrors  -

  " We boycott unacceptable products from other sources, why not boycott products from China?  When I am shopping for anything that comes in contact with food or a product that is absorbed through the skin, such as lotions or shampoo,  both for me and my pets,  and I see it was made in China, I put it back on the shelf......"

Someone liked the idea and suggested starting a new thread.  Since this topic was originally your idea ( "Toys Recalled...."), I'm wondering if it might be better to reuse yours to encourage citizens take an active part in correcting this situation.  Obviously, the politicians in Washington aren't  going to do much until we do something that grabs their attention.  A "Silent Protest" by motivated private individuals can bring changes.  A lot a people are feeling frustrated about this issue and may also have some very workable ideas.

What do you think?  Thanks.
 

I do not know who posted this, but it was NOT posted, nor quoted from exphoneman!

Okay, thank you.

peace2u

 

I do the same thing. I refuse to buy anything made in China. The problem is that the agency of OUR government who should be overseeing this isn't. They let all this crap in. It's like the FDA approving medicine so the pharmaceticul companies can make a ton of $$$ then a few years down the road they "discover" that pill kills people so there are lawsuits. However, the amount paid out in lawsuits is a drop in the bucket compared to what the pharma companies made on the pill for all the time it was sold. It's always all about the money. This will end up being about money, too. Somebody got paid to look the other way.

Like you, I am becoming very angry.  The big pharma companies are getting away with "murder."   Mostly, I think,  because of their lobbyists in Washington.  One example, some of the osteoporosis drugs, after making mucho dollars from these drugs for the drug companies,  we now find out that these meds  destroy jaw bones.  Is that a fair trade - to cure one problem and replace it with equally or more horrible other health problem?

Please see:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070929/ap_on_he_me/cold_and_cough_medicines;_ylt=Aqi5nc7ZQt4id83Xk3lJR7qs0NUE

Inverview with Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore's Health Commissioner, that the drug companies have been marketing cold medications for children under the age of two that are not only dangerous, but ineffective for that age group.

The contaminated products from China:  Apparently, the FDA cannot keep up with imports coming into our country.  So far, I have only read  that Washington's answer is that we have to beef-up the FDA.  Who will be paying for this?  Guess who?

There is one bright spot.  Who controls the money?  We do.

Anyone have any opinions or suggestions about solving some  these problems?

 

 

 

 

Curious:

It's always all about the money. This will end up being about money, too. Somebody got paid to look the other way.

Darn straight it's about the money. Look at our legacy of outsourcing... jobs, food, goods and services. And while I agree that Corporate America and the FDA have let us down, some of this is our fault. We want what we want when we want it, and we don't want to have to pay alot of money for it.

My wake-up call came when thousands of dogs died from contaminated food, like so many sacrificial lambs. I tried writing to our esteemed congresspeople and got lots of nice "thank you" notes from them. But I haven't seen much action beyond what IL Senator *** Durbin is trying to accomplish. The Bush admin still isn't willing to restore the FDA jobs it hacked off, and you know Bubba ain't gonna point fingers at his CEO cronies (interesting... we just can't escape cronyism, can we).

So I guess I am waging my own silent boycott. Silent in that I don't bother contacting the corporations. There are too many of them. I read labels, I shop judiciously, and try to buy local and American whenever possible.  But it's not easy to buy American. Our meat products don't have a "grown-in label" (thanks, Dubya), and most of our processed and semi-processed foods don't, either (thanks again, pardner). And there are some products that only come from overseas -- take a look at the canned mushrooms sometime. They come from Thailand or Indonesia. If you want canned mushrooms, you're pretty much stuck. The store brands are labelled "distributed by." Can't even trust the organics, b/c enough of those come from overseas where the standards might be a teensy bit lax <cough cough>.

I really think the only way to make an impact on this mess is by boycotting with our checkbooks. Money is the only language they understand, so if enough of us refuse to buy imports, maybe the greedy CEOs will start to listen? 

Curious:

It's always all about the money. This will end up being about money, too. Somebody got paid to look the other way.

Darn straight it's about the money. Look at our legacy of outsourcing... jobs, food, goods and services. And while I agree that Corporate America and the FDA have let us down, some of this is our fault. We want what we want when we want it, and we don't want to have to pay alot of money for it.

My wake-up call came when thousands of dogs died from contaminated food, like so many sacrificial lambs. I tried writing to our esteemed congresspeople and got lots of nice "thank you" notes from them. But I haven't seen much action beyond what IL Senator *** Durbin is trying to accomplish. The Bush admin still isn't willing to restore the FDA jobs it hacked off, and you know Bubba ain't gonna point fingers at his CEO cronies (interesting... we just can't escape cronyism, can we).

So I guess I am waging my own silent boycott. Silent in that I don't bother contacting the corporations. There are too many of them. I read labels, I shop judiciously, and try to buy local and American whenever possible.  But it's not easy to buy American. Our meat products don't have a "grown-in label" (thanks, Dubya), and most of our processed and semi-processed foods don't, either (thanks again, pardner). And there are some products that only come from overseas -- take a look at the canned mushrooms sometime. They come from Thailand or Indonesia. If you want canned mushrooms, you're pretty much stuck. The store brands are labelled "distributed by." Can't even trust the organics, b/c enough of those come from overseas where the standards might be a teensy bit lax <cough cough>.

I really think the only way to make an impact on this mess is by boycotting with our checkbooks. Money is the only language they understand, so if enough of us refuse to buy imports, maybe the greedy CEOs will start to listen? 

We reap what we sow! The Clinton Administration got us in bed with the Red Chinese, Clinton and his CRONIES turned a blind eye with spys at sesitive places such as Los Alamos. Until the Clinton admin, the only Chinese made firearms in this county were war trophies.

Product leaving China are poor quality, but Americans buy the junk up, and WalMart stock soars.
There is nothing that leaves China that we cannot live without. We get junk, in return they get Catapiller and American Standard, perhaps one of the two may be a fair trade.

On the whole, Red China - and I use this term because they DO NOT LIKE IT, is a dirty, stinking, polluted cesspool. Families live three generations to a small apartment. Most cook on charcoal, delivered by a bicycle "truck". As a result, the air pollution is incredible (think LA 1964 or Blexley WV 1959) coal smoke!

The people are willing to work at any job. As a result, there are street sweepers everywhere keeping the place clean of litter.

They do not have the same restrictions on pollution as we do, so they can produce cheaper of they do not have PETA, EPA, GreenPeace or anyother treehuggingdogoodgroups on thier case.

As a result of no enforement, we (those that import this stuff) get what we pay for...

The individual citizen wants American style freedom, there are little shops that spring up after dark to sell to the tourists. Students stop westerners on the Square to practice "english".

You can boycott all you like, but it is NOT going to help anyone. Americans want cheaper products, Chinese want greater freedom - it is all about money.

"...Corporate America and the FDA have let us down."  I personally think this is very true.  "...some of this is all our fault" - Some of it is, but (and this is, again my feeling) I keep finding that politicians, including some of our presidents  (whom we voted for thinking that they would do what is best for our country and its citizens) for, whatever reasons, work behind closed doors.  We only find out after the deed is done.

    No matter what we personally think about the war in Iraq or Afganistan, much of our tax money is being diverted from takiing care of very crucial problems in our country to pay for this war.  Much more money will be spent to take care of the problems as a result of this war (such as, children/families without significant caregivers, rehibilitation of physicially and mentally injured soldiers).

Refusing to buy some of the important products in whatever way we can, may not solve the whole problem, but might bring some changes.  The result of doing nothing - is zero.

What you are saying about China is very true.  I have also read that the people in that country are suffering very much from the pollution.  Would you like to wear a mask in your face every day when you go to work?  Would you want to eat rats, dogs, or cats for your dinner?

I am not argueing with you.

peace2u:

I keep finding that politicians, including some of our presidents  (whom we voted for thinking that they would do what is best for our country and its citizens) for, whatever reasons, work behind closed doors.  We only find out after the deed is done.

I think you're right. There's too much that happens and we don't find out about it until it's too late. It's like the CDC coming out and saying after all these years that there may be a link between vaccines and autism. Or there may not be. How much money are the vaccine makers paying to keep that information under wraps?

peace2u:

Refusing to buy some of the important products in whatever way we can, may not solve the whole problem, but might bring some changes.  The result of doing nothing - is zero.

That's a good way to put it, peace2u. You're right on the mark.

peace2u:

"...Corporate America and the FDA have let us down."  I personally think this is very true.  "...some of this is all our fault" - Some of it is, but (and this is, again my feeling) I keep finding that politicians, including some of our presidents  (whom we voted for thinking that they would do what is best for our country and its citizens) for, whatever reasons, work behind closed doors.  We only find out after the deed is done.

    No matter what we personally think about the war in Iraq or Afganistan, much of our tax money is being diverted from takiing care of very crucial problems in our country to pay for this war.  Much more money will be spent to take care of the problems as a result of this war (such as, children/families without significant caregivers, rehibilitation of physicially and mentally injured soldiers).

Refusing to buy some of the important products in whatever way we can, may not solve the whole problem, but might bring some changes.  The result of doing nothing - is zero.

You are all picking the wrong target, it is not all FDA fault. there is plenty to spread around, such as the EPA and the little groups that do not want American based manufacture. Boycott if you must, but think on how to return factory work to the US.  Hypothedical; if you were to purchase a new mixer, would you go to WalMart and buy a Chinese import for $40.00 or buy a mixer made in West Bend WI for $300.00?? My bet, you will go for the import.

The war in Iraq and Afganistan is money well spent. Anytime you can fight a war on foreign soil will keep that war off OUR soil. The muslim extremists that are so bent on our distruction will stop at nothing to fulfill the mission, and they have said many times that our way of life is thier mission. They have proved that they will do the "unthinkable", so every dollar spent to keep them in thier rat holes over there is a dollar not spent here to turn the USA into an armed camp.

I have joined the "silent protest"  I refuse to buy anything that is not made in the USA.   My car is a "GM" product.  No "third-world garbage" for me!!!!!!

navyblue439:

I have joined the "silent protest"  I refuse to buy anything that is not made in the USA.   My car is a "GM" product.  No "third-world garbage" for me!!!!!!

do not read the fine print if you think you purchased an American product.

The car was ASSEMBLED in the USA with parts made in Canada, Mexico, Malyasia. On-Star is Motorola, but Motorola is not USA anymore, very few electronics devices are made in the USA, usually military only (they lose the Top Secret clearance if foreign owned, even if it is British (Marconi) owned).

My favorite is the bumper sticker on the Ford Pickup, says "your flag conflicts with your car" or something to that effect. The truth is that the Ford was made using a transmission from France and an engine from Germany

Boycotts of foreign goods aren't too effective bacause so much of what we depend on is made overseas or Mexico/Canada.  For instance, I was in need not long ago of a nozzle for my garden hose.  You know, the one with the 6 different settings?  Anyway, I was al for purchasing one  American made, but it's not out there!.. I went to 3 stores in search os one made in the good ole US of A but it wasn't on the shelves. What was were 15 varieties, all makes and models from, you guessed it, China.  Some foreign goods are just unavoidable unless you truly can go without, but going without is wholy un-American!