If the standards in China let an excessive amount of lead to get into our kids' toys, what else is getting into our homes? Lead is only the beginning. Check the labels on your food. Read up on pesticides and their dangers. I promise it will change the way you eat. The standards the U.S. government allow aren't as safe and eco-friendly as they could be--there are a lot of improvements that need to be made--but when even those aren't being met, who knows what we're buying?! Look at your labels. It's required by law to have a country of origin listed on an attached label on all textiles. I believe this includes toys and produce. What are we overlooking in the name of saving a buck???

I have worked for a children's clothing manufacturer, and when they sourced fabrics outside of our borders it was for one thing--their bottom line. And believe me, it didn't affect the consumer's price--it affected the parent corporation's profit. They bought for less, you paid the normal price, and they made more $$$$$. Be smart in what you buy. Quality is always worth more. PERIOD. They bank on you being stupid enough to fall for advertising tricks. (ie, it's Walmart, Lowes, etc., therefore I must be getting a GREAT deal!--NOT SO!)

Maybe we should forget the buck and make a statement as to what we will and won't tolerate. Our health--and our children's--is worth more than that almighty dollar, right?? Not to mention all the jobs that have been lost to overseas production that is done for cents per hour. Our economy is lousy largely because of our willingness to send our jobs away. I watched factories in Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia close to move production to Mexico and China in the two short years I worked for a particular manufacturer. When these jobs go, the former employees can only afford to shop at Walmart, Walmart makes money, Walmart sends it to Mexico and China and so on...Get it??? It's a vicious cycle.
Buy AMERICAN!! Buy LOCAL!!