Really Pissed Off!

When is the bottom line more important than our children’s health? That the question that every parent should be asking, in light of the recent recalls by Mattel for lead paint and magnets. On August 2nd of this year, Mattel recalled more than 1.5 million toys made in China for its Fisher-Price division, due to use of lead paint. They included the much sought after Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird, Elmo, Dora The Explorer and Sponge Bob, just to mane a few. On August 14th, just two weeks later, Mattel send out another recall, this time for over 18 million toys made in China, this time for the use of tiny magnets and more lead paint. Some of those items included the popular Polly Pocket, Batman and Barbie products due to the magnets used, which could be ingested by children and more lead paint on the very popular Serge cars, based on the movie “Cars.” To top it off, Mattel’s recall is “Voluntary”…at least that’s what it tells you on their website. In other words, you can return all of Junior’s toys if you want to, or he can continue to play with them and possibly suffer brain damage and perforation of the digestive system! I’m not going into the details, as you can find them on the Internet and I’m not just picking on Mattel, as only a few weeks have passed since Schylling Associates had to recall Thomas and Friends' tops and Martin Associates did the same with many of their Sponge Bob products.

This is a prime example of what happens when you outsource manufacture to another country who has limited standards on the manufacture of their product….and China leads the pack. This is what you, the consumer, can expect for cheap, overseas production. Mattel has over 50 factories in China, most operating in the Pearl River Delta, which doesn’t even include those companies who are subtracted help produce this junk! How the hell do you implement any kind of any quality control with these conditions? Mattel claims that they are vigorously changing the inspection process “because your children are our children, too”….that’s Mattel’s heading on their “Voluntary Safety Recall Fact’s” webpage. Doesn’t that make you feel better about how much Mattel really cares about your children? Mattel, as well as most major manufactures of all the products you buy, will continue to have their products made in China, so they can keep the Bottom Line as low as possible without concern of the public’s safety!

On the other hand….where is the outrage? The American consumer complacently gathers Junior’s toys and complies with their “Voluntary Recall” website. Michael Vick got more attention from the Media and hate mail from the public for his participation in dog fighting? Where are all the parents who cry out whenever someone lights up a cigarette near them or their children? The list goes on! The American Public and the Media should be outraged by this…..and we’re deafened by their silence! Most of the products you purchase are now made in China. If not, parts of them are manufactured there. They go into your car, your home and all the things that provide you the “Good Life.” It was one thing to loose millions of jobs by sending them overseas, but now it’s time to reap the harvest. You’ve got cheap goods, high profits and what appears as a growing Economy. You’re about to learn what a “Global Economy” is going to offer you and your children!