Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Return To Dismal

This just in at the news my computer, the New York Times reports that Chinese are responsible as more and more toys are being recalled. Please note that I am sending you to this morning's paper so this is really pretty current as I am writing this at 4 am. I urge you to read the entire two page article.

So far this year, China is responsible for every toy recall. I am now leaving the article. You already know that I have previously mentioned the Chinese food and toothpaste problems. I have mentioned the need for the FDA to test more than 1% of the food in the country since we seem to be letting so much bad food into the country.

I have also mentioned the amount of trade that is done with China, and the $trillion trade imbalance that exists. This isn't because we are fools at running the country. It happens because China has lower labor costs than we do. We buy more of their manufactured goods than they buy of ours. They also pirate a lot of goods, and that has a huge effect. The pirating is not a government policy, but it is tolerated. All of this inflates the trade imbalance, and hence the trade surplus that China has with us. China now graduates more scientists and engineers each and every year than the United States does.

So why in this day, and in this age does ANYONE use lead paint? Why is it on a toy that children will play with? Why are the Chinese funding the Taliban in Afghanistan according to Larry Kudlow?

I do NOT believe in Trade Wars, but I will play to win if necessary. I do NOT believe in confiscatory tariffs regardless of how attractive they may be made to look. I DO believe in the original Princeton University (1968) One World Economy Global Concept where we evolve into a one World economy and live in peace. That is personal, and no one else need ever believe it too. It may be an old outdated concept for all I know, but I liked it a lot. On the other hand, I am not happy with what is happening now.

The appropriate way to be an activist is to write to your Senators and Congressperson. You can find your Senators and all of their addresses and e mails by clicking on the reference I have for you. The reference I got you for your representative is the fast, easy way to find how to write your Congressperson. If you want to find out more about the House, or Visiting Washington, or other interesting things, like the law, just take the /writerep/ off the back of the URL.

Sending a written letter is best. It gives them something in their hand to wave a round. Phone calls are almost as good. But whatever you do, be reasonable, polite, and you get a whole lot farther. The last thing is this. Please take the few moments to do something. And remember, when you read the article, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been cut back and almost gutted. If you have a child, please sign up for the automatic notification of toy recalls. And please remember to vote in 2008.

10 comments:

Itsnopicknick said...

Not really my frame of reference so I won't post a stupid comment.

Itsnopicknick said...

doh...

The CEO said...

They sell their stuff in South Africa too Spoon. Be just as careful. And then, there's always women's clothes, women's underwear, women's shoes, shall I go on?

The CEO said...

The SOB's tainted food killed my cat, if I never mentioned it.

Glamourpuss said...

Did yousee the story about the guy arrested for 'owning' slaves in China and forcing them to work in a brick factory? Nasty stuff.

Puss

Anonymous said...

China and our debts scare me.

cmhl said...

did you vet say that the food is what killed her?

The CEO said...

Not in so many words, CMHL, but we kept asking the vet if there was any way to neutralize the rat poison she had ingested and the vet kept telling us that there was no known antidote. It was the issue that kept us in the vet's office up to the day we put her down. She was running around the house right up to eating the tainted food, and then she started the strange behavior, stopped eating, and then stopped drinking water. It could be a coincidence, but I don't think so personally.

I don't think I could take it to court, and frankly, we were told that it wasn't practical to try.

I don't have enough money to play Don Quixote with China. I think I will dummy up here.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I'm so sorry about your cat. Many animals died and continue to die from tainted food, and as you've pointed out, humans are also eating imported food that kills.

Your suggestions are valid and it is not enough to express our consternation. We all do need to make our concerns heard in Washington and hope that somebody there actually cares.

Odat said...

Getting right on this...thanks for the info.
Peace