INTL Email suggesting we boycott Chinese products from 8/1 to 9/1

[Guns-N-Moses]

So I received this email from a family member, which basically suggests (or requests) that we in-effect boycott products from China for 1-month.

What's your opinion on products from China and based on my comments below, what can America do to be competitive?

How many Chinese products do you have in your house?


Here's the email

AUGUST 1st to Sept. 1st

Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were made in China. Her daughter will recognize her in the following.

Did y'all see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WAL MART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '

I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.

70% of Americans,.. believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? You Can..DO IT YOURSELF,AMERICA !!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug. 1st and continue it until Sept. 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st ! START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives,WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, America ...

Well, come to think of it, instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time.

While I agree with the sentiment of this message (as being a good idea for America), I have to disagree with some of the information that was provided and challenge whether Americans would be willing to accept the consequences.

I can buy a cheap Chinese DVD player for about $25. The same DVD player if made in America would probably cost at least $200

We want the products for a cheap price but we (Americans) also want to make $20+ per hour. (I'd say that most American companies probably pay this if the job requires electronic assembly/knowledge).

Chinese workers who manufacture similar DVD players probably get about $1 per hour (if they're lucky). How can we compete with that? It's a catch-22 or a conundrum. Is it not (kind of) our own fault?

So I'd have to challenge the $64 amount (the amount that they said we'd pay if we bought American made products). Perhaps that value is an average and also includes every product - like a $1 blank DVD, which would now (if using the 'average') cost $65.

We live in an "I want it now" and "I want 'one' of everything" society. Everyone wants an iPad/iPod/latest cell phone, PC, a big screen TV, the latest electronic gadget.

Let's face it; we're spoiled. But we'd hate it if we had to pay higher prices for these devices. The quality of American life in my opinion would diminish because we could no longer afford the 'toys'.

Do you think a boycott like this would do anything to help?

What could we do to make a difference?

 

[Garryowen]

I heard on the radio today that the Reds are increasing their persecution of Christians, and destroying Bibles. I have no desire to support such wickedness, and I certainly don't want to buy food produced in a nation that adds toxins to its food. They even sold toxic baby formula, IIRC.

Still, it's hard to avoid buying foreign products. We don't even make some things here anymore. Probably not a dozen shoe factories in CONUS now. We used to have several within an hour drive of our town. And, the imported shoes are not really cheaper, just more poorly made.

 

[duchess47]

I don't buy anything made in China or Mexico. If that's all I can find, I go without. I've been doing that for 20+ years. I do buy products from other countries, just not China or Mexico.

 

[Guns-N-Moses]

I don't buy anything made in China or Mexico. If that's all I can find, I go without. I've been doing that for 20+ years. I do buy products from other countries, just not China or Mexico.

I also try to avoid products from China (including ROC and Taiwan et al). Especially food. I refuse to by any food that came from that region and try to buy only American food products. Like you, I do without (if it's food).

However, avoiding Chinese products is almost impossible. Hardly anything is made here in America. Look at the products we use everyday; Our cell/telephones, our computers (including the monitor, printer, keyboard & mouse), our radios & TVs, our kitchen appliances, air conditioners, fans, power strips. Even things like light bulbs.

If you looked at everything that you use each day, are you sure it wasn't made in China or Mexico?

It's scary how many things we use that was made in that region.

 

[Publius]

The only to do that is buy USA made products and if you put it into a search engine! "Buy American" or "Made In The USA".

 

[duchess47]

I also try to avoid products from China (including ROC and Taiwan et al). Especially food. I refuse to by any food that came from that region and try to buy only American food products. Like you, I do without (if it's food).

However, avoiding Chinese products is almost impossible. Hardly anything is made here in America. Look at the products we use everyday; Our cell/telephones, our computers (including the monitor, printer, keyboard & mouse), our radios & TVs, our kitchen appliances, air conditioners, fans, power strips. Even things like light bulbs.

If you looked at everything that you use each day, are you sure it wasn't made in China or Mexico?

It's scary how many things we use that was made in that region.

You are right. My Toshiba was made in Japan but it looks like my Compaq was made in China, not Texas as I thought. No wonder it works poorly.