11.29.2007

Welcome To The People's Republic of ChinAmerica

It's coming to that, isn't it? Having bought some bedding items, including a headboard, I came to discover everything we bought was made in China. Everything.

Surely, I thought the headboard, bought locally, would be made in the states. I made it a point to ask when we bought it. I was told it's an American Company. The Sales Person was confident all products were made in the States.

I was duped.

Usually the "made in china" stamp is on a tag or sticker that can be cut off or removed. Not so on our headboard. The "made in china" is on a piece of cheap-looking brass which is thereby nailed into both the footboard and headboard. Probably done just so we won't ever forget its origin.

I asked the delivery guys if they could remove it.

They just laughed.

I said "I'm not joking."

Maybe a can of spraypaint will do the trick.

Of course we could return it and buy elsewhere, such as the furniture place that makes its own hand-crafted, wood furniture. If we could afford it, we most definitely would. If we could afford it, we would buy everything locally, everything made in the U S of A. Well, with the exception of electronics and cars out of Japan. And of course, certain types of fruits and nuts.

I recall Dennis Kucinich once talking about this "made in china" uh, um, infiltration. He said he was convinced the American People would be willing to pay more for products made in the U.S of A. I am sure most of us would agree with his sentiment. Unfortunately, he neglected to address the wage issue.

You cannot address one without the other.

When it comes to buying locally produced foods, I try and buy those things that are closest to our home, but often times I come to discover those that are the closest are the most expensive. I understand why. These are small companies and so they aren't making things in the quantities that their bigger competitors are. However, for all of this talk here locally about encouraging people to 'buy local, buy local,' these well-meaning folks simply cannot encourage this behavior without addressing the wage issue. When you're on a pretty fixed income, picking between spending $.99 or $1.89 on the same size container of sour cream, both produced here in the state, but one closer to home, well, it becomes a no-brainer. Those pennies, after all, do add up.

3 comments:

nolocontendere said...

No lead in that bed, is there?

China really does have our number, and can destroy the country overnight if it decides to get rid of the over trillion dollars of greenbacks it owns.

tkn said...

Ms. tkn and I made a headboard a few years ago. It was one of our first projects. Its a clunky, wobbly conglomeration of tongue and groove pine and plywood and the finish is poor and the boards have separated, but it was cheap!

Nina said...

no lead in the wood. or so we were told.

if mr. nina and i had the tools and space, we would have probably given the homemade version a try. well ok, he would have given it a try--i would have been acting as his apprentice. good for you and mrs. tkn for making your own! :)