Talk Is Cheap...No, Seriously It Is.

When ever I am in a store with my Mother or Grandmother both look at item they are wiling to purchase and immediately turn them over to see where they are made. Most of the time they put the item back where they came from. Why? It's not because of the price, it's because it is (probably) made in China. Now I not saying that everything that is made in China is necessarily made cheaply, but one cannot deny that many things are. When my parents where growing up, most things were made in the good ol' USA, with a label stitched with our flag on it. Nowadays looking for goods made in America is like looking for a needle in a haystack. In the dark. 


It is no secret that Americans love cheap things. For most big retail chains, (Macy's, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) their tag line has something to do with low prices, and most places now will take competitors coupons just to get a sale. But while consumers are doing their happy dance on the great deal they just scored, they don't even realize the consequences are staring them in the face. By purchasing cheap goods, US consumers might be getting quantity but they sure as hell are not getting quality. Products produced overseas by workers who are pressured to make garments in mere minutes and are paid very little are not helping anyone but big businesses. US workers are being laid off by the thousands because factories are outsourcing jobs and paying international workers less money while working (unpaid) overtime. 


US workers are being swept under the rug by free trade because everyone wants to save money on goods that will need to be replaced in a timely manner. By not making things in our own respective country we are killing our economy and helping the unemployment rate rise. Now, I am not saying that I also am not guilty about looking comparably at two toasters and buying the one that is cheaper. We all want to save a (few) bucks. I know times are hard, but it's like they say: "You have to spend money, to save money". After reading and writing an essay on free trade this past week I think there are more definitely more options than just free trade. So next time you're browsing around in your local retail, electronic or grocery shop, look or ask (if you want to see an employee sweat) to see if anything is made in the USA. If so, help your fellow (wo)man and yourself by contributing your money to fair labor conditions and rightful pay in America, and help get us out of this stupid recession! 

When's the last time you have seen one of these?

It's the middle of the week. Friday is so close, I think I see it.
A.B