This unhappy bit of columnizing will involve repulsive aspects of a lax federal government, loss of American jobs, the knuckle-headedness of the American consumer and a venture through the byways of Personal Pronounhood---my, me, mine, our, we and on into profound ennui.
It didn’t start with the igniters but it’s as good a place as any, after the scissors when Wonder Wife and I noted that a new pair of scissors wouldn’t cut paper.
Another pair likewise was not a paper cutter. They also wouldn’t cut plastic as found in bread wrappers.
Back to the butane-powered igniters: the first lasted three weeks and was used to fire up those burning things that supposedly keep mosquitoes away from ham sandwiches and beer out on the patio.
Both quit.
Then bought a neat little semi-round radio for the office that would not pull in WPLN, Nashville’s public radio station.
I took it back where the wonderful girl who sold it to me cheerfully accepted it and offered a slightly upscale model. This got WPLN but only after going through six degrees of strain and then it never was quite sure and the sound was muddy.
These beauties were made in Asia.
At a second store a clerk looked left, then right and said, “We’re not going to have anything you’ll be happy with.” She flung a hand in direction of the stereos. “China.”
I’ve owned plenty of good stuff made in China. “Okay,” she said with a sigh, “have at it.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Bose will make you happy.”
“Y’all handle those?”
“Go online.”
I did and the cost was so high I’m hoping Wonder Wife doesn’t check the Visa bill.
Looking around the house there are many things we have no idea their point of origin. I called the 800 number on my multi-vitamin bottle. The nice guy who answered asked “What do you need?”
“Where are these things made?”
He said that if the bottle had certain markings on it then it was produced “in the continental United States.” If not, it came from Asia.
I was mollified by this narrowing of possibilities, but the fellow and I swapped a few laughs because I was getting no more out of him and/or the 800 number. Asia or the continental US? Like they could be made in Phoenix City, Newark or Beijing, right?
My printer cartridges are made in Malaysia.
Texmatti Rice? Made in America, but not exclusively in Texas.
Somewhere back in the feel good days of Morning in America, we discarded many of the laws and regulations that were distractions for big business. This isn’t working well. (Can you say subprime, job loss and recession?)
Under the rule of my dictatorship, points of origin will be readable from the middle aisle and will be printed in red. This will be done in the belief that good Americans will prefer good American products, even if they cost more.
Good lord, they’ll be worth it.
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