Letters to the Editor - DuPage County
Boycott products made in China
Americans, the ultimate consumers that we are, have long fulfilled their needs by purchasing all types of products with little concern regarding the origin of manufacture.
For years, my husband and I have refused to buy any products made in China.
Needless to say, this has become increasingly difficult -- but not entirely impossible. With some time and patience it can be done.
Two examples come to mind.
Recently, my husband was replacing the rotors in my car. The first set he found was made in China.
By checking at other auto parts stores, he was able to find a set made in the U.S.A.
They were only $5 more and had a five-year warranty versus the Chinese-made one-year warranty.
I needed an extra phone.
Going to the "big-box" stores only presented Chinese-made options.
I was able to find a store that had reconditioned phones -- perfectly usable, reliable, and made in the U.S.A.
Also less expensive than the Chinese product.
Our reasons for boycotting China made products are varied. I understand to many the cost, often times less, is a significant factor.
However, can the greater cost be denied?
With increasing regularity we learn in the news of the dangers involved in products imported from China.
Some of these include pet food, substandard ingredients and dangerous additives in our food, food supplements and makeup, lead-based paint in our children's toys, and tires that present real danger due to faulty construction.
The government says they will address these problems, but we all know the time involved, as well as the fact that many of the government departments responsible are under-funded and understaffed.
We the consumers have the tangible means to control the problems by just refusing to buy the products and indicating this to the retailer.
It can be difficult and frustrating; you may not get what you want immediately. But it can be done, and in the long run you, your children, and pets will be a lot safer.
Who knows? We could even bring more manufacturing back to the U.S.A. What a concept!
Sara A. Bryant
Warrenville
Michael Moore telling it like it is
Hey, you people out there who criticize Michael Moore's new movie, "SiCKO," about our failure to have universal health care in our country -- at least he is keeping this problem in the forefront of our apathetic public and tells it like it is.
Our politicians in Washington, D.C., are doing nothing but giving themselves raises and dragging their feet on vital issues in this country.
So unless you have a better solution to build a fire underneath these politicians, keep your criticism to yourself! You know who you are.
Fay Moskal
Glen Ellyn
Charen, Supreme Court get it right
Congratulations to Mona Charen for an excellent article on Justice Thomas' concurrence in Parents vs. Seattle (July 3).
"Diversity" has always been a transparent fraud for justifying shuffling people around on the basis of skin color.
Congratulations also to the Supreme Court for finally realizing that the way to stop racial segregation is to stop segregating by race.
Denny Driscoll
Round Lake