Roadie wrote:
On Sep 14, 4:54 pm, Zeke Zzzppt wrote:
Roadie wrote:
Secondly the Chinese are not forcing us to buy their
goods. We are choosing to buy them. We are choosing to buy them in
great numbers because we all like a bargain. If you are concerned
about buying merchandise from china, the solution is staring back at
you in the mirror. All you have to do is stop buying goods from
china.

Unfortunately, what you say is true, but only in theory. It seems that
due to greed of the manufactures (and consumers), almost everything is
made in China.

Almost everything is made in China? Huh??? Almost everything means
some impossibly high percentage like 90% of all of the things we buy
comes from China. And I'm sure you know that is not the case.

Well, I didn't specify an exact number, but seeing as you ask, consider
the following:

I think most people would consider Wal-Mart a "general purpose" store;
i.e. they carry a VERY wide variety of merchandise, everything from bed
pans to brake pads. Having said that, for the last couple of years it
has been widely published in various media outlets that 85% of this wide
variety of items on Wal-Mart's shelves are made in China. So, even
though I said "almost everything" is made in China, I consider 85% as
'almost'.

A large majority of our manufactures have long since gone
off shore.

Well, it is time for those who believe the "Made In China" label to
take a stand and buy goods from somewhere else. Or make what they
need rather than buy it. But why pick on China alone.

I'm not. My exact quote was "China (or some other Third World country)".

Have you
considered what goes into producing vegetables from Mexico or farm
raised fish in Chile?

I don't know what you mean by "goes into", but yes, I fully realize
other countries besides China produce things. Unfortunately for this
country, every item produced elsewhere, China or otherwise, is one less
job for an American.

But lets not forget why there are more goods on the retailers shelf
from China, Mexico, Indonesia, Eastern Europe, Chile, etc. It is
because we as consumers voted at the consumers ballot box by
purchasing the lowest cost item. We all love a bargain, and I'm sure
you do too. As we all know the lowest cost of production is usually
somewhere else.

Well, that's what makes it such a conundrum -- people DO like cheap;
however, I contend that if you don't have a job, ultimately it won't
matter how cheap a product is.

So, if buying locally is truly important

it's 'truly important' only if you ultimately want to have a decent job...

then it is time for you and
others like you to stop whining and start taking action by changing
their buying habits. Implement a solution rather than voice vagu
complaints.

First, I'm sorry to hear that you consider open discussion as 'whining'.
Secondly, by having this open discussion, maybe that IS 'taking action'.

Beyond whining on rec.radio.shortwave

Again, IMHO, to call open debate 'whining' is rude and thoughtless on
your part.

what have you done to eliminate
the consumption of non USA produced goods from your family's budget.
I suggest that you stop talking and organize enough like-minded folks

Well, gee, I thought that having an open debate is a way to start
organizing people. Ooops, sorry, I forgot -- it's just whining. ;-)

to start buying only goods from the country(ies) that you want to buy
from. If enough others agree with you there will indeed be a change
in the goods available at the retailer. Retailers respond to consumer
demand and if enough of us say we are willing to pay more for USA
produced goods then those will be produced.

If as I suspect you are in a very small minority then no change will
occur.

At least no change will occur until the very last well paying job has
been exported overseas, and by then it will probably be too late...