The latest round of toy recalls (announced today by Fisher Price) got me thinking that I could really simplify my life and shopping by not buying anything made in China. Of course, then there wouldn't be much left I could buy... are toys made anywhere else besides in China?

What I propose is starting a list of our favorite Made in the USA/Canada brands and products.

But I can't start the list because apparently I am Chinese.

Anyone?

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

I posted about this this morning. I am just at a loss to see how to avoid China not only in toys, but food, clothing, you name it. We seem to have been sucked into their economy without realizing it.

You are absolutely right. Somewhere along the line we became a society who values quantity over quality. We would much rather repeatedly buy the same crap over and over again than spend a little more and get something that will last longer. We also want lots of the stuff around. Our houses are bulging to the brim with tons of junk we don't need or want. This is where China came into the picture...to meet our demands for cheap crap.

Sorry to be a potty mouth, but it's true.

They are having a blurb on the news right now about tires from China dicentrgrating!!! They think over 450,000 tires on the road made by them right now, and that china has known about the problems since the 90's.

The government needs to do something about China. First they poison our pets, then they try and make our kids get hurt from faulty toys, add in the people drying/getting injured from tires... what next?

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

Kim posted about a book about a family who did this for a year. It would probably be a very good place to start. They did a lot of research and improvising to do it, but the were able to.

Truthfully I don't know how or when we became so dependent on China - well I understand how (our love of cheap stuff) but I don't know how to go back. I should probably read about that family -- of course right now I'm focusing on making our food more local. One thing at a time.

Its really unbelievable isn't it? I've been trying to go China-less for about a month now, and its so crazy! Our truck tire went low, and we needed an air gauge - every one available came from China. We had to get one. I was shopping for my niece's birthday - got her a cute outfit, a game, a few other small items - her outfit had to come from China! I feel like I try to support American-made whenever I can - I just wish it were easier to do!