I couldn't agree more. The solution as I see it is to avoid these outsourced products. If these big companies like Mattell and Fisher Price want my business, they are going to have to prove to me that they understand the importance of safety in the products that carry their label. If they don't control the manufacturing...the don't control the safety.

For my youngest daughter's birthday this year I bought her one handmade, locally-produced toy instead of a wagon load of plastic, dubiously-produced junk. She loves it...I love it...and I didn't have to compromise my environmental or safety standards.

If Mattell and Fisher Price want my business back, they are going to have to change...not me!

I agree. Rampant capitalism is a main factor in the destruction of earths resources and danger to our health in many ways. There has to be a better way than basing "success" on profit when that profit is won at the expense of everyone else.

I cannot say it often enough, everyone in America should see "The story of Stuff" 15 minute film here:
www.storyofstuff.com

The problem is not capitalism or free marktets. Anyone who believes that, is free to enjoy life in Cuba or under any other global dictatorship. We need free markets. What we also need is consumer discretion and discipline to only buy quality products. If there were no market for the junk that is created for consumers, then no company would produce poor quality goods at a loss and still be able to stay in business. It is a basic concept that many liberals tend to overlook.
I fully agree with Jenn, you and I have to decide what we are and aren't going to purchase for our families. I've noticed a real quality issue with men's casual attire produced overseas. I will no longer purchase clothing in stores that sell these goods. As consumers we have to decide what is more important to us, to save a few dollars or to seek quality or safe products. Your purchasing decision is a real vote with your money. That is what Wal-Mart or any company really undestands.
I do not believe that U.S. companies have to give up control of their production. If consumers send a message that they will no longer purchase shoddy merchandise, but desire U.S. authority over production, then China, Inc. will be forced to open up and improve the manufacturing process in all of the aspects that they are being criticized for at this point.

companies are not powerless. they are just unwilling spend an extra few hours on research, or product testing - so that they can save a few dollars.

or (in my experience) most companies simply don't care.

It's not capitalism in general, so much as this flawed, shallow notion of capitalism that is taught in commerce/economics courses ... and, in particular, the MBA programs!

The MBAs must be held to account ... for a change!!

Consider, the '90s ended with the elimination of so much wealth in the dot.com nonsense ... that was created, largely, by/for the MBAs in the respective companies; finance; government, and, of course, the consulting firms that get their $600/hr contracts regardless of how much damage they do. Too often, they're consulting to government.

What's worse, we're now 'exporting' this shallow doctrine of 'slash/burn' capitalism to the developing countries: virtually all prominent business schools are setting up shop abroad.

It makes me wonder if we can convince them to do business so poorly and ultimately 'outsource' our manufacturing back to us!!??!! Think about it.

We're f*****.

Oh, the mention of the MBAs and the dot.com ...

I meant to draw attention to the fact that never once did I hear the slightest suggestion of accountability with regards to their poor advice and the very flawed 'non-companies'.

No attention drawn to the MBAs at all, that I know of.

It seems to me, that if one is going to wear the 'Title' of 'Master', then one ought to be truly masterful! Is that too much to ask?

The MBAs have co-opted a purely academic title without necessarily having the practical knowledge/skill. And their causing major, serious irreparable damage.

Why do they get off so easily?

I think we should convince the world to cut its ties off with China. The Chinese government has no shame at all, destroying the environment, abusing their workers, and poisioning people half a world away, then making half baked attempts to lie to the rest of the world that everything is going fine even though everyone knows it is not.

We will have no hope of stopping climate change if we do not stop the evil, corrupt chinese and indian governments in their tracks. Confiscate industrial might from them and give them to countries in North America and Europe to fight unemployment and climate change there until they agree to change their ways.

"The Chinese government has no shame at all"

I feel it's as much a case of the companies outsourcing to the cheapest bidder who have no shame at all.. then the consumers (us) who demand the low prices and quantity of goods who have no shame at all. I think our own governments also share equally in the evil.

There's a much bigger picture here than just China or India and this is not a new situation.

Japan was manufacturing junk in the early 70's; they lifted their game (and of course needed to do the same with prices), then local companies just found other countries to go to so they could get their wares cranked out at a lower cost - and Japan is now doing the same. This is just a cycle repeating itself. Japan/Korea/Taiwan yesterday; China today, who knows which country it will be tomorrow.

China's role is more of a symptom rather than the illness itself; which is hyperconsumption locally - and that falls squarely on our shoulders.

As another commenter mentioned, The Story of Stuff explains all this really well.

avispartan,

your views are sadly misguided and smack of an ugly xenophobia. you're certainly not alone in thinking the way you do, but as long as this antiquated idea persists--that China is an "evil" and incorrigible polluter with no concern for improvement--nothing can really change. as Carl Pope writes, this isn't just about China. This is about an unstoppable global supply chain that began with the industrial revolution, when we in the West were doing the same if not much worse than what China is doing today. Never mind the politics for a moment, though they are important. The big difference is that what happens in the U.S. impacts China and vice-versa. Yes, China's pollution may be poisoning us, but it is our insistence on low prices that feeds that pollution. So this is a two-way street, and we'd better get on it, rather than standing on our elevated off ramp complaining with racist overtones about something that it is in our interest and power to help change. This is everyone's problem now, and everyone's to solve.

alexp@treehugger.com

avispartan117, I don't know why you're so strongly pointing the finger at China's "shameless" govt, when it's actually the Western businesses who are hiring the Chinese et al and their slave labour to make our cheap goods, and our governments who turn a blind eye to the practice.

While I dislike the Chinese govt and its practices, I also think if they're getting paid relatively huge amounts of hard currencies to sell their labour and resources by our wonderful business leaders, it shouldn't be seen as any more of a moral failing.

in addition to my comment from yesterday, i sent the below comments to Carl Pope, and also wanted to share it with you:

"...having spent several years of my career in apparel design and product development, and have found it very disappointing that most companies are happy to cut corners on research and product testing to save time and a few dollars. Few companies are so incompetent as to be unaware of the potential hazards of their products, and the consequences – many simply don’t care. Mislabeling (with false, misleading, or incorrect information), chemical hazards, and unethical practices are too often covered-up by clever marketing. When/if these companies are caught with their mistakes, they plead innocence and ignorance when it is the company’s responsibility to be well versed in all safety and quality issues, and enforce their standards from product sampling through to post production.

There are many resources that provide thorough product testing and are current with all required standards for each country of distribution. Unless the governments make these test mandatory (and perhaps subsidize testing to reduce cost for the companies), and enforce standards with heavier penalties, companies will continue to take short cuts – solely to generate more profit.

Companies need to take a more pro-active approach to this problem, and save themselves time and money in the long run by not having to look for loop-holes and means to conceal these errors, and risk damaging their reputations."

thanks.

let me go further in depth

yr right, i did leave out the corporations in my rant. the vast majority of them are based in china, and as the post says, they have almost no control over thier product quality. If trade is cut off from china, they will come back here, where they will have control and unemployed people willing to work for them.

hyperconsumption will have to stop, but lets face it: it wont. We need an incentive to make it stop, and that will be temporary high prices of consumer goods once we cut off our trade relations with the Chinese. Goods have been too cheap for too long, and high prices for a short enough time as to not impact the economy and people's lives too much might be able to knock america to its senses.

jeez, I never meant for my comment to be "xenophobic". The chinese people are honest and hardworking people and dont deserve the health and environmental problems that they are suffering as a result of their shameless government. As soon as the chinese start to see their factories start to go back to the West, they will be more than willing to negotiate, and the result will be better for everyone in the world.