Made in the USA?

I remember a time some years ago when you would go to the store and find products that were proudly displayed as being "Made in the USA". These products were advertised using an American flag or some other patriotic emblem promoting them as products manufactured domestically. At the time, it was popular and patriotic to support these products over other foreign-made substitutes in attempts at rewarding American ingenuity and at reducing our country's dependancy on foreign economies.

As I read a recent article on CNN.com, I was struck by something that I hadn't really noticed. Those "Made in the USA" stickers aren't nearly as common, and it seems the popular thing to do is to buy foreign-made products in lieu of products manufactured within the United States. The article on CNN (Avoiding Chinese Food Products Nearly Impossible) tells of a woman and her family who have tried to minimize their support of food products that are "Made in China". She talks of how difficult it is to find any products today that are not manufactured overseas - mostly in China. As I read the article and considered the issue, I started to look around the room at the products within reach. Here's what I found:

The major components of my Dell desktop computer are all Made in China.
Virtually every piece of my Dell laptop is Made in China.
My Nokia cell phone is Made in China.
My Uniden home phone is Made in China.
My box of Kleenex tissues is Made in the USA.
My Compaq PDA is Made in Taiwan.
My Canon camera is Made in Japan.
My Hyundai Sonata is Made in Korea.
My Toyota Corolla is Made in Japan.
My Lance Armstrong LiveStrong bracelet is Made in China.
The keyboard I'm typing on and the mouse I'm using are both Made in China.
The lamp on my desk is Made in China.
My Vaseline Intensive Care lip balm is Made in the USA.
My sunglasses are Made in Italy.
My paper shredder is Made in China.
My Logitech web camera is Made in China.
My two office chairs are both Made in China.
My Orbit chewing gum is Made in Canada.
My stapler is Made in China.


Needless to say, I started to notice a disturbing trend when I started picking up every object in reach and checking where it was manufactured. Very few of the items I own - and even fewer items that involve plastic - are manufactured within the United States or even in North America. Virtually all of the items I use on a daily basis are Made in China or in some other country in the Far East.

I realize that many of the companies that own and sell the products I use are American companies whose profits are taxed in the USA, but that ever-expanding search for strong profit margins and reduced production costs has driven a significant amount of manufacturing outside of North America.

I do not know the full effect this increasing dependance on China has had on our economy, but I don't think it mere coincidence that China and India - two of the countries receiving most of the U.S. outsourcing - have seen their economies explode with growth over the past decade and that the international value of the U.S. dollar has steadily declined over that same period.

If American companies continue to outsource increasing amounts of manufacturing and service operations to countries overseas, then I expect the U.S. dollar to continue to decline in value and foreign import taxes to continue to climb. I expect the economies of China and India to continue to grow and expand and to threaten the United States as the world's primary economic superpower.

It was just ten years ago that I remember seeing the "Made in the USA" sitckers promoted and displayed prevalently. I can only wonder - and worry about - what the state of our economy and our dependance on foreign manufacturuers and service providers will be in another ten years.

Shuttle Atlantis Returns to Earth...

In a relatively unheralded return to earth last week, the space shuttle Atlantis and crew made a thrilling and risky - but safe - return to earth following the shuttle's trip to space and the international space station.

It's relatively rare to see first-hand, close-up pictures of the space shuttle, but I was able to obtain some pictures and the following story from a friend of a friend of a friend... (you get the idea).

Here's what this "friend" had to say about the shuttle's landing at Edwards Air Force Base:

"Living here at Edwards AFB gave our family the opportunity to see the Space Shuttle come in from space. Several people have been fascinated by our experience, so I thought I would share it with all.

Thursday night we watched as the shuttle trailed behind the space station in the night sky in preparation for its return to earth. I am on the medical response team here at Edwards, so we met early Monday morning to prepare for a possible return to Edwards.

Happily, we got tagged this time. From the time of decision until the shuttle lands on the ground is about 90 minutes or so. We spotted the shuttle about 2 and a half to 3 minutes before it landed - while it was still at about 30,000 feet. 30 seconds later we heard the characteristic sonic boom.

My admiration skyrocketed for the pilots of the shuttles. Without any engines they glide the shuttle from space where it is flying at tens of thousands of miles per hour onto a little runway on earth and land it on a dime."

The Trouble Tree

A friend of mine sent me a link to this short slide show that teaches an important lesson about dealing with the everday challenges and troubles of life.

Enjoy watching The Trouble Tree.

Happy Independence Day!

John Adams assumed that July 2 would be celebrated as our nation’s birthday, not July 4, because it was on the second day of the month that Congress actually adopted the Declaration of Independence.



Allowing for that inconsequential variation, I invite you to join with me in reflecting on the majesty of Adams’ words as written to his beloved Abigail:


“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. It will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated … by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever.”

The significance of Adams’ writing is not merely its prescience (he describes a pretty typical modern Fourth of July celebration) but the subordination of that celebration to “acts of devotion to God Almighty.”


Let’s recall these words as we celebrate our “great anniversary Festival” today.


We often ask God to bless America. On July 4, Americans should remember to take time and bless God.

Tough on Crime...

In Maricopa County near Phoenix, a Sheriff named Joe Arpaio has taken a tough stance on crime and confinement over the past 15 years.


Sheriff Joe is becoming known around the world as the sheriff who provides a major incentive for criminals to stay out of jail. Among his rules in the jail are the following:

1. Inmates are issued pink boxer shorts, socks, and towels as standard issues. Their outer clothing is black and white striped prison suits as seen in old-fashioned movies.


2. Coffee is not permitted because it lacks nutritional value.


3. Smoking and pornographic materials are not permitted since they have no positive value.


4. Inmates must pay for their own meals, which cost less than 50 cents each.


5. Inmates are assigned to be part of a "chain gang" working in the community. (To avoid discriminating against women, there are female chain gangs as well.)


6. Since cable TV is required by federal law, Sheriff Joe has the Disney channel and the Weather channel permitted, but he blocks all other cable channels.


7. Inmates are not permitted access to weight rooms. If they want to work out, they get their exercise on the chain gangs.

Sheriff Joe's tough stance on living conditions in jail has drawn the ire of various civil rights organizations who apparently think criminals in jail deserve rest, relaxation, health club membership rights, cable TV, movies, vices such as cigarettes, coffee, and pornography, and the avoidance of physical labor. Though these opposing groups threaten Sheriff Joe and conduct constant smear campaigns, he is routinely re-elected by the people of Maricopa County in overwhelming fashion. Who wouldn't want a sheriff that's this tough on crime protecting your community and your home?

If inmates complain about the conditions in the prison, Sheriff Joe tells them two things:

First, jail isn't meant to be a luxury hotel. If you don't like the conditions in jail, don't commit crimes that will land you there!

Second, it hardly seems right for criminals in the United States to enjoy better living conditions than the heroic men and women of the military who are struggling and suffering in harm's way to protect our liberties and freedoms from terrorists.

If all prisons and jails were more like Sheriff Joe's, I suspect our recidivism rate in the United States would dramatically decrease.

Political Humor: The Barber

Here's a cute little political joke I found funny. I think it takes a humorous jab at both Republicans and Democrats, and I thought it was funny. Enjoy!

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week". The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot take money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful."

Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut.

Trashing our Border...

Several environmental groups have recently opposed the icreased usage of helicopters and other motorized vehicles in patroling the United States' southern border. The reason they are protesting this increased vigilance at the border has nothing to do with the people living near or crossing over the boder - it has to do with the animals who might be disturbed and annoyed by the impact of noise, vibrations, and pollution produced by vehicles operating in their natural habitat.

At first glance, one might think their arguments deserve some consideration. When one considers, however, the massive amounts of land being patroled by the U.S. Border Patrol and the increasing number of illegal aliens infiltrating our country each day, one would also have to think that the risk of waking up some sleeping animals is secondary to our national security.

Also of interest when you consider the environmental groups who are aggressively opposing these efforts to protect our country's border is the fact that these same groups do not appear overly concerned with the tons of clothing, plastic, dirty diapers, glass, and other garbage strewn among these natural habitats by illegal immigrants entering our country each day.

When I say tons of garbage, I don't speak figuratively, but literally...and I understate the severity of the problem by not pointing out the hundreds and thousands of tons of garbage being deposited in our nation's wilderness and nature reserves by those who choose to invade our country. (Dropping your garbage as you cross the border to break our laws isn't the best way to make a good first impression!)

I've talked before about the economic, cultural, and political effects of illegal immigration, but this is another example of the negative consequences of illegal immigration. The next time you think about giving of your time or resources to help protect some of our world's natural environments, first think about the hundreds of miles along the southern U.S. border that are being desecrated each day with tons of garbage as an illegal alien's first act on U.S. soil.