Made In America?

I'm passing along a piece that came to me through a good friend. It's about buying American and it's a concept that's near and dear to my heart.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for the global economy - American farm exports are doing just fine thank you, and those across the waters need jobs in order to buy our farm exports, but I am really getting tired of having to worry about the safety of the products I purchase. China is a particular worry. A friend of mine who does business in China confirmed my fears. He says he has to be on the alert all the time to get any quality out of them.  So, here's the info - I've not verified it yet. If you happen to have a chance to check these facts, please let me know if they are accurate. Thanks.
(I don't know why this comes with the little * things!)

I DIDN'T KNOW HALLMARK CARDS WERE MADE IN CHINA!
*That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore, They are made in
China and are more expensive! I buy them at Dollar Tree - 50 cents each and
made in USA *

I have been looking at the blenders available on the Internet. *Kitchen Aid
is MADE IN the US *. Top of my list already ...

Yesterday I was in Wal Mart looking for *a wastebasket. I found some made
in China for $6.99. *I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if
they had any others. *She took me **to another department **and they had
some at $ 2.50 made in USA. *They are just as good. Same as *a kitchen rug *I
needed. *I had to look, but I found some made in the USA *- what a concept!
- *and they were $3.00 cheaper *.

*We are being brainwashed to believe that everything that comes from China
and Mexico is cheaper *. Not so *. *

One Light Bulb at a Time...
*I was in Lowe's the other day and just out of curiosity, I looked at the
hose attachments *. *They were all made in China. *The next day *I was in
Ace Hardware *and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments
there. *They were made in USA. *

*Start looking, people *. . ...In our current economic situation, every
little thing we buy or do affects someone else - *most often, their job. *

*My grandson likes Hershey's candy *. *I noticed, though, that it is now
marked "made in Mexico. *" *I don't buy it anymore *.

My favorite toothpaste *Colgate is made in Mexico *... *now I have switched
to Crest *.

You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger . . . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce
dryer sheets.
I was in the light bulb aisle, *and right next to the GE brand I normally
buy -- was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value *." I picked up both types
of bulbs and compared them: they were *the same except for the price *. . .
*the GE bulbs cost more than the Everyday Value brand, but the thing that
surprised me the most was that that was made in MEXICO *and *the Everyday
Value brand was made in - you guessed it - the USA at a company in
Cleveland, Ohio. *

It's Way past time to start finding and buying products you use every day
that are made right here.
So, on to the next aisle: Bounce Dryer Sheets... yep, you guessed it, *Bounce
cost more money and is made in Canada *. *The Everyday Value brand cost
less, and was MADE IN THE USA *! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer
sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years, at
almost half the price .
*My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for
everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job
you save **may be your own **or your neighbors! *

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so
we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!
*Stop buying from overseas companies - you're sending the jobs there *. (We
should have awakened a decade ago....)
*Let's get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs
and create more jobs here in the USA . *
I passed this on .. .. . will you???