Cheap and nasty

In the 1950s and 1960s 'Made in Japan' was a synonym for cheap, nasty and low quality goods. Now it is the standard of quality and value. Today, cheap and nasty is identified by 'Made in China'. That would be more or less bearable except for the fact that all too many of these poor quality products are also dangerous.

The response of most Americans, encouraged by the media, is to blame our government for not inspecting everything and protecting us from harm. The reality is that we need to stop whining and begin looking out for ourselves. Relying on government, which is generally expensive, inefficient, and incompetent, simply doesn't work very well. Self reliance is an American characteristic of which we need to see more.

This quote, from Maya Angelou's latest book - Letter to My Daughter - provides valuable advice:

"Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood."

So, whining and complaining are out: action is in. I simply intend to do my absolute best to avoid anything that says 'Made in China'. I will change my mind when Chinese manufacturers achieve the quality and reliability standards of their counterparts in Japan and Korea.