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Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:10 am
by dbackjon
Call it a condom conundrum.

At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?

In this case, Chinese condoms.

That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.

But not anymore.

In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.

The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.

"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/64577.html

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:19 am
by TwinTownBisonFan
dbackjon wrote:Call it a condom conundrum.

At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?

In this case, Chinese condoms.

That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.

But not anymore.

In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.

The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.

"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/64577.html
Isn't there a medical consideration about the questionable quality of Chinese goods?

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:24 am
by dbackjon
TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
dbackjon wrote:Call it a condom conundrum.

At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?

In this case, Chinese condoms.

That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.

But not anymore.

In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.

The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.

"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/64577.html
Isn't there a medical consideration about the questionable quality of Chinese goods?
Should be

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:34 am
by Appaholic
What a dilemma? Will the bible belt bemoan the lose of American jobs in Alabama or celebrate the lack of American complicity in birth control?.....what to do, what to do.....

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:01 pm
by Col Hogan
Is there truely a "safe" decision here??????

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:10 pm
by UNI88
It's all part of an evil government plot. Outsource the manufacture of the condoms to China where they will use substandard materials causing impotency in many of the users thereby reducing population growth in third world nations and saving the planet in the long run. :D

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:10 pm
by dbackjon
UNI88 wrote:It's all part of an evil government plot. Outsource the manufacture of the condoms to China where they will use substandard materials causing impotency in many of the users thereby reducing population growth in third world nations and saving the planet in the long run. :D

You are overestimating the brain power in Washington :lol: :lol:

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:15 pm
by UNI88
dbackjon wrote:
UNI88 wrote:It's all part of an evil government plot. Outsource the manufacture of the condoms to China where they will use substandard materials causing impotency in many of the users thereby reducing population growth in third world nations and saving the planet in the long run. :D

You are overestimating the brain power in Washington :lol: :lol:
Where do you think they're testing the condoms? :lol: :lol:

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:34 pm
by mass fan
Made in China, must be real small condoms.

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:06 pm
by grizzaholic
Do people in Alabama even use condoms...or are they reserved for when they are sleeping with someone outside their family?

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:07 pm
by dbackjon
grizzaholic wrote:Do people in Alabama even use condoms...or are they reserved for when they are sleeping with someone outside their family?
They just make them. Don't use em!

Re: Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:08 pm
by grizzaholic
dbackjon wrote:
grizzaholic wrote:Do people in Alabama even use condoms...or are they reserved for when they are sleeping with someone outside their family?
They just make them. Don't use em!
Gotcha ;)