Hi, my name is MadHound, and I use a (insert electronic device here) made in China.

[freshwest]

4. Yep. But, gotta keep that old team rivalry going, huh?

I was looking around my place the other day. While the things I have are mainly from 5 to 35 years of age, with few exceptions, I considered how many were manufactured in China:

Lamps, computer, VCR, TV, bookcase, desk, A/C, fans, chest of drawers, kitche appliances, iPod, external hard drives, cellphone, land line phone, shredder, mop bucket, books, picture frames, carry alls, shelving, clothes hangers, cutlery, dinnerware, utensils, soap dish, wall calendar, pots and pans, ceramic pots for plants and such supplies, etc., and the list goes on.

I didn't choose to buy Chinese and always sought American made if possible, and still do. But when I ordered a recliner years back from a store that said they were made in America, they soon said it was backordered and took time to manufacture. I thought it was made here. It turned out that was how long it took to get the Chinese to make the furniture and ship it. My kid's bedroom furniture was also from a store that claimed to be American made. It turned out it was made in China. And the stores are just waiting for whatever the next container ship brings in, and it really has little to do with consumer tastes or demand. They don't care.

If American companies hadn't sold out lock stock and barrel to the Chinese years ago, not only the rights to manufacture, but even the tool and dies and all the equipment was shipped to the Chinese. It may be part of trade agreements, it may just be corporate greed. Right now the USA is struggling to make anything. Obama went to Steve Jobs about getting Apple products all made here, was quoted as asking him,"What can we do to bring these jobs back here?"

Jobs is reported to have said, "Nothing. Those jobs are never coming back here."

I don't see this as evil on Job's part or as weakness on Obama's. The contracts that created the manufacturing base of China were signed years ago. I believe the same this is part of what is going on in the withdrawals from other countries. There are contracts and long-term agreements that were signed before Obama was on the scene.

Unfortunately, the planet appears to be run, not by the ideas of philosophers or well-meaning politicans, but businessmen. They have set the terms of the playing field for our world. The people that we elect to office are the middle man between us and them. Let's choose wisely.