I watched the show for the first time the other night, and I was appalled by one segment. A nice young couple came out with a nice, attractive sippy cup that had a bendable straw that allowed your kid to get all the liquid out of the bottom of the cup, it was made with plastic that wouldn’t disrupt your kid’s hormones, and it was made in the good old U.S.A. — on purpose. This couple wanted to make an American product. Good for them!
One of the vulture capitalists was quite insistent that the product should be made in China because it was cheaper. The wife explained that moms went into children’s stores and said, “Show me what you have that isn’t made in China.”
The vulture capitalist looked annoyed. Why would they do that? he wanted to know. (Oh, I dunno, maybe their habit of lying about hazardous ingredients to make products CHEAPER FOR PEOPLE LIKE HIM?) You could tell he didn’t believe her, either.
And it never even occurred to him that some of us are willing to pay extra to keep jobs in America.
This is why we’re so fucked. Fucked, fucked, fucked.
Not just moms are saying that…a way elderly black lady shopping at the Walmart in NW Philly said me the same thing.
Of course this isn’t going to occur to Mr. Vulture Capitalist; his ignorance and narcissism prevent him from having an open mind, much less the ability to see things from another’s perspective. It’s too bad.
And to think I was complicit in their rise to power. Going after those low low prices at WalMart or wherever. Then one day, after some product safety scandal, I started reading the labels. Made in China, on everything, quite literally everything. And I started looking around for other stores with local owners and US made products and they were all gone. And then, my friends started losing their jobs, my sons can’t even find a job. Oh sure, they could be some rich fuck’s towel boy or a waiter for not much more than I made when I started working 50 years ago. Where’s their chance at life, at a future, I ask my ‘elected’ officials? And I’m told, yes, yes it’s a pity, but suck it up stupid, nothing can be done, that’s the new world economy, come back with a bigger check and I’ll see what I can do. So I turn on the TV hoping to escape with some diversion and I see some vile Randian douche-bag portrayed as a font of wisdom imparting his Randian wisdom to all us stupid little people and I begin to wish, fervently desire, to be complicit in their demise.
I work in retail mostly in the luggage and mattress departments and we get asked all the time if any of the products are made in the USA. Of course the answer with the luggage is no, it’s all China, Thailand, or Vietnam. These venture capitalist are missing the big profits since people are willing to pay extra for something that is American made.
Reality shows are scripted and the reality actor are playing characters. Don’t take that conversation seriously or at face value.
DBK – I agree probably staged.
I am a collector of vintage everything – housewares, textiles, etc. – and I specifically look for items made in America. The quality is astounding compared to what you find today. Also selection has suffered severely since mid-century.
Even items we used to think were cheap “Made in Japan” are better than today’s garbage.