FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning D.V. Earhart--P894219 P.O. Box 4235 Made in U.S.A. Policy Comment Washington - D. C. 20580 For years, I've purchased items because they were needed or wanted, without further consideration - shoes and clothes merely because I liked them, appliances from necessity, utencils that were useable. Then the quality began to fade - Items wore out too soon, shoes fell apart too quickly, utencils failed after only a few uses. Noticing where most of the items were made, I came to the realization that planned obsolescence was no longer just the private property of car and appliance companies. I used to go to dime- and department stores with blinders on. No longer. I now visit these 'Chinese warehouses' with eyes wide open - and look for 'homemade' goods, despite the expected higher prices. Any item claiming other than 'Made in U.S.A.' is contemplated long and hard prior to purchase: "Do I really need it? How badly do I want it? Is it worth the price since it will need to be replaced in so short a time?" More often than not, I pass on the purchase, go home and make do with what I'd been using - or create my own item to use with what's available, thus wasting no money on 'new' uselessness. I've also taken to frequenting thrift stores to find older items that were made with lasting properties, often because they were obviously made in the U.S., and for long term use. Now it seems someone wants to degrade American workmanship - on purpose - by climing itsms manufactured elsewhere be given the 'honor' of calling themselves 'American' made with 'Trade in U.S.A.' labels? Now, while relatives and friends are constantly replacing foreign made shoes, I supply mine every few years from American Indian reservation/shops. While too many are under the impression that originally American name automobiles are still 'American', I keep learning otherwise. While most people seem willing to settle for flavorless foreign fruits and vegetables obviously picked green for shipping, I prefer to do without until I find a vegetable stand selling locally grown produce that can be picked ripe, thus supporting American farmers. Whether grown, manufactured or merely assembled, I much prefer to support our own people first, putting them to work and, hopefully, returning the honor and pride so desperatly necessary to outlaw planned obsolescence. Should you decide to weaken American production with lesser workmanship merely because some small part comes from here. I will frequent yet more thrift stores and Native American shops - and insistently urge everyone I meet to do the same, steering clear of things of which no one can be sure. Buying 'new' items at inflated prices, knowing they can't last long will never replace 'old' items known to last the test of time. If an item is of Chinese workmanship, especially of American parts, it should say so. If it's made in Mexico, or anywhere else, it should say so. And if it's made in the U. S. - it should say so. If a country hasn't the pride in it's own workmanship to lay claim to it, why should the U.S. take the blame and its citizens pay for it? I realize that America is expected to be a melting pot. People coming here should be expected to learn our language and customs, work hard to support their new home and thank their origins for allowing the change. That should not, however, mean their hard work should be claimed by the rest of the world, and American citizens deluded into believing they are purchasing something they aren't by lowering standards that should be raised instead. Leave the "Made in the U.S.A." a clear and true label. Let foreign countries take credit - and responsibility for their own work. Allow American citizens the choice of reading, heeding and believing an 'honest' label, rather than making them distrust and wonder:
D.V. EarhartD.V. Earhart |