Wealthy Western World Wants Cheap Chinese Consumer Goods: Not Good

I bet most North American homes are cluttered with cheap stuff from China even though we can organize and afford better.

In a recent article entitled Price is right to embrace China columnist Mindelle Jacobs lists several items in her home that were made there.

And though Ms. Jacobs writes “China should never have been allowed to host the (Olympic) Games...” (and) “may be a bully that grinds dissidents into the ground” she admits she didn’t check the labels (e.g. on her clothing) and reject things made in China “because I like to save money. And so do most people.”

She continued:

“China knows that people generally care more about a good buy than they do about Tibet. That’s why Canada imported $35 billion worth of merchandise from China last year, including machinery, toys, furniture and clothing.”

In my opinion, the Canadian economy won’t sink into the ground if we bought 35 billion bucks worth of stuff elsewhere in an effort to affect change in China. The benefits would far outweigh the loss of some clothing, toys, furniture etc.

And when Jacobs states, “Perhaps, at least, we could wear Free Tibet buttons” I have to ask, incredulously, “Why should we do the very least for Tibet (and wear a small button?!) while continuing to support the economy of the most repressive country in the world for the sake of another stuffed ottoman or cheap cotton shirt?”


We can do better. Much much better.

[Link to Four Mugs and a Crock for a much better plan]