Caught a piece on NPR news as I was fixing my bed yesterday that made me pause…and listen, giving it my full attention. It was about products sold in the stores, “Made in Washington,” and “Made in Oregon.”  (madeinoregon.com)

The eye-opener, or in this case, the ear-opener, was that these retailers sell products that are NOT made in these states.

The reality is that businesses find themselves in bed with anyone who can help them make a buck. And another reality is that the U.S. has been out of the business of manufacturing goods for a long, long, long time. As with  most blue collar jobs involving life’s basic necessities…food, clothing, shelter…we as a country have handed them off to other countries only too happy to get the business. Instead, we’ve gone on to far loftier enterprises which involve the use of our gray matter…and the money is much, much, much better.

So I guess there’s a trade off. We make more money, some of us, doing white collar work. But then we have to hand much of what we make over to those who feed, clothe, and shelter us…like the Chinese, Bangladesh, Pakistani, Indians, Mexicans, Japanese, as well as the people of Hong Kong, Tai Wan, and so on.

Oh! And the salmon used in the “Made in Washington” store products is from Alaska.  (madeinwashington.com)

But as the store president explains, the finishing touches are handled in Washington. The same is true of the ti-shirts and other souvenirs the store sells. The logos and art work are applied in-state. It was telling to hear a salesperson say she feels uncomfortable having to answer customer complaints about the false advertising. And even moreso when she says she shops elsewhere for items that are truly…made in the U.S.A.

As we shop for Christmas gifts, we might start reading the labels as judiciously as we have begun to read the packaging of grocery store items.  (AP/AP)

We’ve been able to eliminate or at least curb our intake of trans fats, saturated fats, sugar and sodium. Perhaps the secret to restoring our financial well-being is cutting out all the fluff from our other basic necessities…like designer…jeans, shoes, handbags, household decor…and the list goes on. Then perhaps we’d have…

…good health…all the way around…

………hugmamma.  😉