I can solve the problem of dangerous goods coming out of China.  You know what I’m talking about; the toothpaste with anti-freeze in it, or children’s toys with lead paint (shit, ANYTHING with lead paint).

The source of the problem is, when these things happen, we as a society point The Finger Of Blame at the Chinese.  Whether it’s at the Chinese government or the Chinese manufacturing companies doesn’t matter, we point it at Big, Bad, Naughty China and huff huff huff and vent our outrage.

We should be pointing that Finger directly at the companies selling this dangerous shit.

Like it or not, China is it’s own place.  If they are okay with lead paint on kids toys and things of that nature, then that’s their business.  It’s places that buy the stuff from China, because paying for dirt-cheap labour is less costly than paying for labour in places that have manufacturing, health, and safety standards, that are to blame.

Know what?  If you find toxins in product you buy from companies in China, STOP BUYING FROM THOSE COMPANIES!

The real problem is, the companies that buy this stuff and sell it to us get all the advantage of dirt-cheap product from China, and none of the disadvantage of bad press and public outrage when things go south.  They simply help guide the press to point The Finger Of Blame at the Chinese, and set themselves up to be just another victim.

Well, I call bullshit.  I’m never going to complain about Chinese manufacturing standards (or lack thereof) ever again.  My Finger Of Blame is going to point fairly and squarely at the companies who sell the tainted products.

Here here!

I think the only company that really felt any backlash was Mattel ... they had one of the first, biggest recalls with the “Cars” toys. Then, it was an onslaught of crap from China (which had probably been happening all along, its just that we were finally testing for it), which brought the focus down on China. It SHOULD have remained with the companies selling that crap! Bassholes.

You are only half right, imho.

Every country has the right to participate in today’s global market. When a country’s offerings fall short of expectation, those shortcomings should be exposed as huge “BEWARE” signs.  That is the risk/price for entering the global market.  You expose yourself to standards and expectations that may not equal your own.

Companies that first discover a previously unknown problem should only be condemned if they do not take action to rectify the problem at their point in the chain.

China, for example, has now established that they can not be trusted to produce any safe product that will expectantly come in contact with a living organism.  But, just lead paint in toys would not automatically lead to suspicion of toothpaste.  However, the tainted pet foods should have brought some question to any ingestable products.

Of course, being responsible for damaging China’s reputation in the global market carries its own hefty price in China.

You love China.  *sings* Deltus and China sittin’ in a tree…

No, Kathy, I love Chinese food.  Like, the North American twisted version of Chinese food.  Love it.

China, the country?  Meh.  Never been.  They run over protesters with tanks.  Not a compelling argument for visiting, lest I offend Chairman Mao and get arrested for no fucking reason.