Is it wrong for the U.S. Olympic team to wear uniforms made in China?

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   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   Is it wrong for the U.S. Olympic team to wear uniforms made in China?
   
   As reported by ABC Nightly News with Diane Sawyer, the U.S. Olympic team are all wearing uniforms, including even their shoes, that have been made in China. It was also stated that these same outfits could have been made in the U.S. cheaper than China. The Olympics team receives their funding through private donors and Ralph Lauren was the designer of the uniforms. Why would these people pay China for something that could be manufactured here cheaper?

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   JBrumettposted 11 years ago

   I guess it's our own fault for letting businesses constantly outsource stuff to China just to have it turn around like this.  I remember when they took away our soft caps in the Army, and made us start wearing the Black Beret when we were in garrison. Take a wild guess who made all those spiffy looking things for ze U.S. Military.  =-P

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   CyclingFitnessposted 11 years ago

   We live in a truly global marketplace at present and China has become a hugely influential manufacturer that  has likely produced many teams kit.
   
   I assume the statement was made by a Politician so they have to look after their own local and national interests though realistically for mass manufacture of garments its hard to compete with large scale Asian manufacturers on price.
   
   Patriotism is fantastic but often unrealistic in the world we live with

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      When interviewed U.S. manufacturers said they could produce these garments cheaper than China, so I still wonder why the donors bought favor with the Chinese?

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      CyclingFitnessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We have the same in the uk but realistically it's cheaper to buy the products in from elsewhere. Would a manufacturer have been quoted if the couldn't produce cheaper? in most cases no

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I understand what you are saying, but the donors never looked to the homeland before they went overseas to a communist country. Gee, have you noticed that no one calls China a communist country anymore? I guess you can't call your banker names. Hmm..

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   Mazzy Boleroposted 11 years ago

   It is a mistake.  You need to support your country's own industries. Individual companies save money outsourcing work overseas, but the country as a whole loses out. You don't really save money if you have to pay your own people unemployment pay and welfare while you send the work to people in China - not to mention having to deal with all the problems long-term unemployment causes in a society. 
   
   People in your own country lose the skills.  You have to think about the next generation - how will they earn a living? What sort of country will you be creating by doing this?  It will only be temporary in any case - as China gets wealthier, Chinese goods will rise in price - but by then many US industries will be dead and gone.
   
   The Olympic Team, especially, represents the people of the USA.  The people of the USA are supporting them, and they should likewise support the people of the USA.

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   adjkp25posted 11 years ago

   It does feel wrong.  When my brother-in-law went through basic training in Georgia we went for his graduation.  After a visit to the gift shop we bought a few things.  My wife picked a nice mug for tea that said USA Army on it (or something like that).  After flying back home we washed the mug seeing the Made in China label on the bottom of it.
   
   It is unfortunate that stuff saying USA on it can't be made here.

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