Toxic drywall?  Lead in children’s toys?  Poison in toothpaste? US souvenir shop trinkets “made in China”?  Disposable furniture?

This is not economic protectionism.  This is health protection and consumer protection (Ok, not the trinkets in the souvenir shops or the furniture.)  These are valid reasons to make the products here, subject to our health and safety standards.  (Which could use some updating — new recall of beef today.)

Yeah it is cheaper to import the stuff, until the first child died, and then the price was too high.  And that was years ago and still we import this stuff.

I am not advocating tariffs, because that is not the point. 

Let’s make things again in this country.  If it costs a little more then we will think twice before we toss it out for the new model.  We will actually save money by investing in quality things that last awhile.  And it is good for the economy and environment, too.

**********************************************************************************

Insurers dropping Chinese drywall policies

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James and Maria Ivory’s dreams of a relaxing retirement on Florida’s Gulf Coast were put on hold when they discovered their new home had been built with Chinese drywall that emits sulfuric fumes and corrodes pipes. It got worse when they asked their insurer for help — and not only was their claim denied, but they’ve been told their entire policy won’t be renewed.

Thousands of homeowners nationwide who bought new houses constructed from the defective building materials are finding their hopes dashed, their lives in limbo. And experts warn that cases like the Ivorys’, in which insurers drop policies or send notices of non-renewal based on the presence of the Chinese drywall, will become rampant as insurance companies process the hundreds of claims currently in the pipeline.

[rest of article omitted]