which also, sometimes, bring disease, crime, corruption, sex slavery, narcotics, counterfeit goods, with them. Dodd's logic should apply to all "foreign imports"; not just to goods. Let us have a logical "check" for immigrants also to ensure that they, like the lead-paint toys, also aren't "dangerous". Every other country has checks and controls on immigration, including those socialists paradises in Europe and even China herself! As does Mexico. But for the US to be logicial towards immigrants is, somehow, racist. Let us inspect the products and the people coming from other countries.

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Once again I must remind you who criticize immigrants that we are a nation of immigrants. Unless you are a Native American Indian, shut the fuck up. We all must go to airports or piers, and purchase our tickets to return to our countries of origin. It's the right thing to do.

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I agree with Senator Dodd. It's past time to stop this "Made in China" crap from coming into our country.

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Great article! The corporate elites who profit from so called "free trade" agreements that sell off our middle class jobs and make us sick with tainted products will continue unless the middle class says "no more" to their Posion Pantry.

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Has anybody considered the role of the American corporations in all this? If companies like Mattell seek to outsource by subcontracting to workers in other countries, do they not have a responsibility to monitor those subcontractors and ensure that the products are fit for sale. How did defective goods get past the monitors and end up on shelves in stores? There seems to be negligence on both sides of this equation!! If this is the case, why is everybody blaming only ONE side?

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I've been completely bemused by the recent editorials and comments on the quality of Chinese manufactured goods - finally, a card came.
I've lived in SE Asia for the last 15 years and purchased 'Made in China' goods too many times for my own good. I have come to the politically incorrect conclusion that Made in China is synonymous with 'Sh*te'. No that's wrong, 'Dangerous Sh*te' is a more accurate description.
I now live in Laos where the retail market for domestic goods is completely dominated by the Chinese. Sadly, that also means that most of the locally purchased stuff in my apartment is sub-standard - rust breaks through chrome finishing, dangerously pointed wire springs poke through my mattress, my electric kettle is a heap of melted plastic.
Many Chinese manufacturers couldn't care less about safety standards, the proper labelling of goods, misrepresentation of contents on packaging or safe instructions. It simply doesn't matter to most of those at the top of the manufacturing chain if their products are dangerous even when they are obviously made for the use of children. Those at the bottom will never be able to afford the things they make so even if they are dangerous, it doesn't matter to them. The only thing that matters is buy cheap, inflate the specs and sell dear. I have scores of examples: heavy guage wire soldered across contacts replacing the fuse; state of the art, top of the range DVD player , look inside - no dts or Dolby decoder chip, same mono signal patched to all speaker outlets; expensive looking chrome plated light fitting with 4x40 watt halogen bulbs but with a transformer rated at 50 watts non heat-resistive, substandard wiring.
The standard guarantee for electrical goods here is one month suggesting to me that they KNOW they are selling sh*te. (By the way, even though the guarantee is agreed at purchase, don't bother taking things back, you will never see your money again). All this is normal Chinese retailing practice. There is no thought for the consumer only their money. Here's my list of Chinese trading standards without the bull:
1 If you can't make 300% from it - don't make it.
2 Customers are stupid.
3 Tell people what they want to hear, truth is bad for business
4 Never give a refund
5 People will happily pay through the nose for sh*te if it's nicely packaged.
Oh, and the Golden Rule: Don't get caught. [CEO suicides are not because they have put customers at risk, it's the loss of face comes that comes from being found out].
By the way, I've got some nice toys and a few baby feeding bottles surplus to requirements, complete with guarantee - any takers?

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I suggest that everyone interested in the outcome of this subject read Jarrod Diamond's COLLAPSE.

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