Not anti-Chinese, just pro-American!

     I heard something today at a school meeting, and then I got an email from Robin (sis-in-law) and I thought this is something to throw at the world.  (Even if the part that "listens" to me at all is somewhat small.)  If you agree, maybe you could pass this on somehow, or send others links to my blog.
     We "know" that there are issues in China, with human rights, government oppression, economic and social controls that we disagree with, and even events of "unlawful" or unethical practices that hurt people both there and in many other countries.  Two came to my "front burner" today.
     Discussing curriculum issues in one of our teacher meetings, our new district curriculum specialist, while setting the stage for a discussion of common core curriculum, mentioned a conversation she had with an official in China this last year.  State and district personnel were in china for some program comparisons, and as part of the Chinese bridge program, which is an effort to improve educational relationships between China and the US. (I guess).  When comparing test scores and competency ratings, our personnel noticed that there were no special ed kids, and asked where they were in the school system.  The answer was essentially  "they are somewhere else."  the same question was asked about handicapped kids, ADHD, autistic, etc., and the answer was the same.  They are not a part of "the system", and therefore not included with the comparisons.  why then are we so worried about not "looking as good" as China?!?
     If they included all of their kids, would they even come close to us?  And what about all these other countries that we are always claiming to be behind?  Are they comparing apples to apples, or are there a bunch of oranges and bananas in the fruit bowl?
     The other issue came in Robin's email, and it is so simple, yet so powerful that I feel I have to address it.  We are in an economic "crisis"(?) in this country.  There is very little made in China that does not have other roots.  Why do we complain about trade imbalance with China, and insist that the government do something about it?  Are we not trying to be masters of our own checkbooks and wallets?  No on forces us to buy Chinese products.  I know, on a budget, we try to find the cheapest items we can, but seriously, if the difference is a few pennies, why not support the American economy, and put down that "made in China" or made in PRC, or Hong Kong?  If we quit buying food sent from china, guess how long places like wal-mart will keep stocking it?  We fuss and complain at times that our government buys uniforms, supplies, flags, etc, from China, rather than support competitors in America, but what are we doing? 
     Every time we buy a product from China that has an american competitor, WE are adding to the massive trade deficit, and adding to China's power.  WE are handing our economy to a country that does not respect us.  WE are allowing our economy to deteriorate, for the sake of a few pennies, which would come back to America if WE would just support US (U.S.?) first.
     Robin's email suggested trying it out, for a month.  Check what you buy, and if it says Made in China, put it back and find an alternate!!  If there is no alternate, do you really need it?  If we can't live without China's inferior products for a month, we deserve the economic disaster that is coming.