There seem to be multiple reasons for a consumer boycott of Chinese goods. What do you think? A poll is attached.
Reports about Chinese goods have been in the news for months now. First, as Time magazine and other sources have reported, China permits slave and child labor. See
http://www.time.com/...
Secondly, Chinese goods have repeatedly failed safety tests. In the past few months Americans have imported unsafe tires, toothpaste with antifreeze in it, children's toys with lead-based paint, and contaminated catfish & shrimp.
Thirdly, we have a huge trade deficit with China. Fourth, we've lost many manufacturing jobs to China. And finally, can't we admit that those heavily packaged plastic toys are pieces of junk that are just going to break and end up in landfill? Wouldn't it be healthier for kids to play with balls, bats, & rackets, to draw pictures, and to ride trikes and bikes?
Tonight on Hardball, a writer for the Wall Street Journal defended Chinese imports, saying they made it possible for poor people to buy goods cheaply. (It's hard to believe that anyone at the Journal really cares about the poor.) Kucinich was asked in the last debate about cheap imported t-shirts. He replied that Americans would rather have good manufacturing jobs and pay a bit more for a T-shirt. Right on!
The Journal writer also groused about protectionism. But until unions are globalized, and workers around the world have the right to a safe workplace and collective bargaining, surely protectionism is a good idea for those of us who aren't corporate CEOs or wealthy stockholders. That is, most Americans. Am I wrong?