The first blog I posted follows:
Nice Slap in the Face Olympic Committee
My home is in Gaston County North Carolina. At one time the textile industry was big here. "Mills" were abundant and bustling. Over-time was normal as we sought to fill the many orders. Shift change was hectic, traffic around the mills was maddening but the jobs were there and the work was honest. Some of the work was hot, some was physically difficult while others strained the nerves and concentration. My first job was in a textile mill folding pantyhose and stuffing it into small pencil boxes. Eight hours a day, most of it spent sitting or standing in front of a long table using a plastic paddle to help get the hosiery into that box. I was young, I was fast and I worried the full time, permanent help who feared they would be expected to do that once I was back in school. Those paychecks taught me how to budget, how to save, how to have a really nice wardrobe and music collection. While I was being paid by the hour most of the employees were production- that meant the more they produced the better they were paid. I went back to that mill once I got out of school. My mother worked there as well. If I did something the others thought wrong they ran to my mother. She managed to politely put them in their place and I worked on. Eventually I moved on and got a better paying-production- job at a different type plant. I went from standing in front of a table to standing in front of a machine the likes of which I had never seen before. I would take skeins of yarn and place them on a creel where they were wound onto a cone. Here I worked the night shift, the pay was better and the people a little less nosey. Not much as it was still textiles where everybody knew everybody else's business. Once I learned the job it wasn't too bad. I had to learn where not to put my hands but it only took not paying attention a couple of times before I became more alert and careful. When the opportunity arose I moved to the afternoon shift running an autoconer. A type of winder that run yarn from bobbins onto cones. I was still young enough to be quick and hungry enough to be greedy. Around then there was something called the Textile Olympics, complete with Olympic type games. A Made in the USA campaign was going strong. The logo was every where. There was pride in the jobs, there was pride in the country, and what we were capable of doing. I changed jobs several times over the course of the years- remaining in textiles for the most part. Working with my hands, using my mind to make it better, easier. Working six and ever so often seven days a week. Tired, frustrated at the lack of time for much of anything but work, but not hurting for money. We worked ignorant of what was to come. Wishing for a little time off, time to spend with family, time for a vacation, time to simply sit and rest. Still we worked producing a quality product for our customers. Box after box was filled, strapped, stacked and stored waiting for time to be shipped. Companies were working hard to keep up with orders. Orders for an American product, crafted with pride by American workers. Then someone decided there needed to be a trade agreement and it all flushed away. Textile mills closed. Big hulking empty buildings stood silent. Machines that once hummed nonstop now sat still, rusting in the passing time. Machinery was sold off to the highest bidder as the lights were turned off for the final time. People- the American Textile Workers stood outside mourning what was. They stood in unemployment lines waiting for their turn to be signed up for that temporary assistance. Where you once saw made in the USA now was anywhere but on that label. Where we once were a strong working nation, we fell away, watching as the jobs went to the countries were workers were exploited and paid pennies. We watched as huge ships crossed the ocean packed with cheap goods made by cheap labor. While we began to long for what was. Empty buildings that could not be sold have been torn down. Empty lots now the legacy left. The few textile plants still operating a mere shadow of what once was. The pride one once held within their very heart missing as they wonder, what will tomorrow bring? We were proud, we worked hard, we created quality. We worked stead regularly, unafraid of hard work. We knew quality and how to make it. We knew what went into our product and that those who used, consumed it would not be harmed. Gone--so much is gone. Not just textiles but manufacturing in general. We still work, we struggle, we stand at the ready, willing to work and work hard at our jobs. Ready to create, to craft to produce. The American Worker remembers what once was, desiring the return. What do we get instead? The clothing- the uniforms for the USA Olympians...... made in China. Nice slap in the face Olympic Committee... nice slap in the face.
And the second..One if buy 10$, two if buy..this should be a wake up call
Ralph Lauren responded to the outcry over the USA team's Chinese made Olympic uniforms. Only after members of congress threatened to burn the uniforms, only after American citizens made their feelings on this known. They have promised that the 2014 uniforms will be American -wait- "domestic" made. Can they not even say "American" made? Here are my thoughts on this topic. Once upon a time, there was great pride in the land over American made products. They were the best made hands down. They still are- the ones that are. And yes, there is still American made products. There could be more. We need to use this latest incident to make us angry, to be the last straw, to make us finally fed up enough to act. And not just by writing blogs, or letters- but to physically put actions behind those words. We do know how to hit them where it really hurts and that of course is in the bank account. Ralph Lauren feared that this would happen. That the backlash would cause fewer sells and it should. I am not talking solely about American textiles here. Not simply about the clothing, but about all manufactured products. They are out there, it only takes a little more effort to find them. Once we do, buying American keeps American workers on the job and puts more of us there. You want jobs back? Buy American. The only way to slow (we will never stop) cheap foreign imports is to stop buying cheap foreign imports. Cheap is not better. Cheap is killing our much loved pets and even worse sickening and putting our beloved children and families at risk. America has strict standards-yes it raises the cost but our families are safer. The chance of the many poisons that are being found regularly in imports being in domestic products are slim to none. If found all of the products are recalled and the producer called to task. I am not blind to the fact that greed is everywhere and can and does bring about those taking the chance of getting away with skirting the rules and laws. It is more difficult to do that here-and it is not the point of this writing. If we set out to deliberately purchase American made products we will put Americans to work. We will cause companies to hire more workers, start up or start up more fully plants that have been idled. Lights will be back on and machinery humming once again. Crafted with Pride in the USA could once again be our battle cry. Flying high and proudly on a banner across each American business. We could once again walk with head held high as we clocked in to a job created products that are made to last, made to clothe, to feed, to transport our family and neighbors. Products that will build and fill our homes. American products are still out there. We can get the attention of the big chain stores that are only out for the profit made. Once you could walk into certain stores and see that made in the USA sign, once. If you want those products there again, shop elsewhere until they get the idea. Smaller, independent shops understand the importance of home grown, home made products and are happy to carry them. Spend your dollars- our greatest weapons in this battle- at home on home produced items. Put yourself, your spouse, your children, your neighbors back to work. It was once said that the United States had moved from a manufacturing country to a service country. Really? Service to what? Unemployment? Hunger? Standing on the side of the roadways with signs begging for work, food, money? We need to stand strong and stand together. We NEED to buy American made, "domestic" products. Shop at farmers markets, shop at family owned-independent businesses, shop where you know you will find American made. Check the label in that item. For every ONE American item purchased you put many back to work. It is a domino effect. One more business with work increased hires another worker to manufacture, another worker to do warehouse, another worker is hired to transport, another to stock in the store..One more person put to work puts more money in the economy which helps repair that economy. Which makes more people able to purchase more products or services. More are able to go to concerts, theme parks, restaurants- which means more employees will be needed there. Like that ripple in a pond it spreads. If we get riled up enough to act. Buy American-return Crafted with Pride in the USA as our rallying cry. We have the power, we have the weaponry-we carry it in the form of our money. Use that weapon wisely and you can and will see a difference. If you sincerely want it.