Made in China

It seems that I hear more and more about the quality or safety of goods imported from China.  The recent toy recall was made possible because Mattel screened their products.   My son, Kevin, suggested that China sending us tainted dog food, tooth paste, beef and now leaded toys was a terrorist plot to get the U.S., Of course that's silly but sometimes I wonder....

When my first granddaughter was born, her parents didn't want her to wear anything made in China becase probably the item was made through child labor.  So I went out to buy her a pair of shoes and had to buy shoes made in Germany. They were a lot more expensive but  the folks that made them had workplace safeguards, health care and weren't children.

If you look at all you own, you will probably find that almost everyting is made in China by American manufacturers.    Which makes me ask, do you suppose American manufactuers went to another country to avoid our strict safeguards?  Or was it just to stop paying worker's comp benefits, decent wages, and health care    It couldn't be taxes because many corporations get tax credits.   I wonder..... If we are not willing to pay for the hidden costs (inspections, anti-child labor laws, health care for workers, decent workplaces and wages)  behind good products, then the saying "you get what you pay for" is true.   

When I check labels, I check for grams of fat, sugar, carbs now I look to see if its "made in China."  I am not saying that all products made in China are bad but "buyer beware" is a good thought.