Saskboy mirrors well what I've been thinking. It's astonishing to discover just how pervasive China-made goods are in our country, something I hadn't really thought about until the pet-food scandal.
I was in the bookstore the other day, looking at books for toddlers and babies. Reading the back cover of one, I noticed in little type the words "Made in China." Huh? I thought. Why is a book manufactured in China, especially one for kids at an age who have a habit of chewing everything in sight? Especially when we're learning more and more that goods for kids made in China seem to contain lead paint? I looked at another similar one, published by a different company. Same thing. Made in China. Didn't matter if the publisher was American, British, or Canadian, all their puffy books or cardboard-type books were made in China. If I wanted to buy a book printed here in North America, my only option was to buy a regular-type book, the kind toddlers generally aren't interested in looking at or playing with and must be read to the kid by an adult (or older kid). The fabric ones I couldn't ascertain where they were made. So what is a consumer to do?
I was in the bookstore the other day, looking at books for toddlers and babies. Reading the back cover of one, I noticed in little type the words "Made in China." Huh? I thought. Why is a book manufactured in China, especially one for kids at an age who have a habit of chewing everything in sight? Especially when we're learning more and more that goods for kids made in China seem to contain lead paint? I looked at another similar one, published by a different company. Same thing. Made in China. Didn't matter if the publisher was American, British, or Canadian, all their puffy books or cardboard-type books were made in China. If I wanted to buy a book printed here in North America, my only option was to buy a regular-type book, the kind toddlers generally aren't interested in looking at or playing with and must be read to the kid by an adult (or older kid). The fabric ones I couldn't ascertain where they were made. So what is a consumer to do?
Comments
Do you watch Doctor Who? The show last night was, funnily enough, just on this theme. Do you give up against certain odds or persist?
In my youth (my, I sound old), we didn't have a lot of toys or clothes, probably because they were relatively more expensive. Just because we've gotten used to cheap and plentiful to the point of ridiculous doesn't mean it's better. And when one is down and out, at least there's the Goodwill and second-hand stores.