I'll not be giving any gifts from China

or any of the unfair labor country's. As we buy from these country's we aren't helping these people we are actually making life more miserable for them. We are only making the owners richer.

If you are looking for USA made products, check out your local craftspeople and artists, organic farmers, etc. There's also a T-shirt factory in CA owned and operated by the workers, and is very progressive. Anyone here have their name? They would be a good firm to support.

And anyone looking for handcrafted wooden toys, check out my friend Dave's site. He's a peace/environmental activist from way back.

www.spencertoys.com

Hey, I've bought from your friend in the past -

his toys are EXCELLENT, so is his service, and the prices are great, too.

You can find things there that are carried at FAO Schwartz (at higher prices) and Dave ships faster.

Dave will be thrilled to hear about it! BTW, he also makes some really cool stained glass pieces-he's working on an innovative design of trees right now.

yuo can buy american made and LABOR made, it just takes work, since our great companies DO NOT carry it

of perpetuating a system that offers no incentives for countries like China to treat their workers with anything remotely resembling fairness.

They are going to need the money very soon. If they feel they must, please make me something or buy used and/or American.

Show these idiots who the real patriots are in our country! Buy American!!!

I do! Often it is the case that American goods are most expensive than the cheap Chinese crap but you get what you pay for.

Regardless of what anyone may say, American good are superior to goods bought from China, etc.; disposable garbage most of it IMO.

:kick:

American goods in general last longer saving you money and time (from having to get out and search for replacements) in the long run.

And you are right. Real patriots do not support outsourcing. Freepers = False Patriots.

I recently bought new curtains for my entire house. Yeah, there were cheaper ones (Made in China specials) I could have bought but I liked the ones made in America a lot better. When I got them, I was stunned by the quality and beauty of the product. Those cheap made in China pieces of crap would probably disintegrate in the washing machine after one spin.

Yes, buy American! That is one way to support America and its people. I feel like we have been given a bad reputation by the few and the greedy out there that unfortunately run our country. :grr:

SO BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS FOR GIFTS THIS XMAS!

and just say no to China and Walmart!

Boycott here:

www.karmabanque.com ... :D

:kick:

:) I never knew that website existed. I am now going to add it (bookmark) to my list of activist sites.

I love it! Saved to my favorites and will pass this on to others. Thanks for this. What a great way to look at the "stock market".

for. I HATE this outsourcing phenomenon and the leader to the bottom is WalMart. Anybody who shops there irritates me even though they don't mean to. I just hate them:

1. Most donations to Republican party of any retailer
2. Censoring books they deem "offensive"
3. Race to the bottom WRT ChinaMart and corporatization of America
4. People I meet in there are predominately freepers anyway.

How can anyone support ChinaMart?

For those of us for whom the holidays are religion-based, we should have another, faith-based reason for celebration - and that requires no spending..

Some of us also prefer to honor the planet - buy not raping it with the horrific depletion of resources.

The only people who benefit from the gluttony and greed are those who are already thick in the wallet.

As for me, I'd prefer to have:

a book or CD (not purchased at WalMart)

a kind word or deed with no expectation of payback,

a donation made in my name to a charity of my choice

I really don't need anymore crap. How many years have YOU had presents that end up in March's garage sale or Salvation Army donation bin?

the only gifts I get are a cheese from my mom and a subscription to Funny Times from my neighbor. These are just perfect, and don't clutter.

They all ask me how to clean their houses using enviro-friendly products. You don't have to spend lots of money at the natural foods store.

My favorite is to take those old Ball or Mason jars you find at antique stores (I like the blue ones). Use an awl and hammer to punch holes through the top of the lid (if the ceramic-lined type). Then grind up some lavendar flowerheads and mix a few Tbsp with 50/50 washing soda and baking soda. This is a fabulous cleanser and is much safer for the environment and YOU than chlorine/chemical-based products. It costs about 50 cents to make once you have the jars (often 50 cents to a dollar). Put a bunch of rubber bands around the outside of the glass jar so you have a grip when your hands are wet cleaning.

Other things: vinegar (diluted) for cleaning mirrors and windows, washing soda added to laundry instead of bleach to keep things clean, and I found a way to clean silver jewelry and tableware using household things like aluminum foil, vinegar, and a couple other things--I'll have to look for that recipe.