By Jim Roha

Freedom of choice is one of the rights we enjoy as Americans. How we define freedom of choice is a bit more problematic.

In my view of the world, freedom of choice does not mean that I can choose to buy lead-painted toys manufactured in China, but deceptively labeled with an American brand name.

I would rather not purchase Aqua Dots — a toy made in China and coated with a substance that, when eaten, converts into a drug called gamma hydroxy butyrate — better known as a “date rape” drug.

I want to buy American-made toothpaste — not Chinese-manufactured toothpaste made with automobile anti-freeze.

I don’t choose to build a fence along the Mexican border. I certainly wouldn’t choose to do a half-baked job, erecting a fence along only a portion of the border. But if the majority choose to erect such a silly, wasteful fence, then, by God, I don’t want it built with Chinese steel.

I choose to use Heinz Ketchup. But true freedom of choice means being able to purchase a bottle of it made in the U.S.A. — not in Canada.

Speaking of Canada — George Bush and the FDA tried to protect us by banning the re-importation of U.S.-made drugs from Canada. But I’m still trying to figure out why the Canadians can sell us our own drugs more cheaply than we can sell them to ourselves.

And the real puzzler is this: Why was it so perilous for American consumers to re-import U.S. pharmaceuticals, when the Veterans Administration was providing Canadian-manufactured gemfibrozil (a cholesterol-lowering drug) to our veterans?

Perhaps the FDA can protect us by assuring that toxic Chinese chemicals aren’t sold to U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers. Or would we hurt their feelings by requiring that they not poison American consumers?

Of course, I’m being pessimistic. Congress and the president tell us that NAFTA is working well. The chairman of a major U.S. auto manufacturer hailed the spirit of American ingenuity as he extolled the virtues of a new vehicle just rolling off the assembly lines. He neglected to inform the public that the assembly line was located in Sonora, Mexico. Granted, Mexico is part of North America, but do you feel misled? I do.

Are you weary of corporate deceit, aided and abetted by those who have been elected to serve us. My granddaughter has a motorized scooter labeled “(XXXXX) — an American Tradition.” Apparently Beijing is part of America, because that scooter was made in China. How about a little truth in advertising? The label ought to read “(XXXXX) — an American name slapped on Asian goods produced under draconian working conditions.”

Recently I accompanied my granddaughter as she shopped for clothes. I look forward to these shopping expeditions with as much anticipation as I reserve for a colonoscopy. At any rate, the racks of the store were filled with skirts and sweaters emblazoned with brand names like “American Girl.” The tags all carried miniature American flags. Of course, everything was manufactured in Malaysia, or Ethiopia, or Zimbabwe.

Call it consumer protection; call it protectionism; call it preserving freedom of choice. Call it whatever you like, but Congress should enact meaningful legislation by trademarking the American flag, or any reasonable facsimile thereof. Perhaps they could prohibit the use of “America” or “American” or “U.S.A.” or “United States” in any brand name or corporate name unless the product is actually manufactured within the boundaries of the 50 states. And while we’re at it, let’s encourage U.S. Customs to be much more aggressive in confiscating foreign knock-off products which infringe on U.S. patents and trademarks — and cost U.S. workers their jobs.

When I purchased my computer, the good old boy with a Texas twang assured me that my computer would be made in Round Rock, Texas, or Knoxville, Tenn. — except for the monitor — that would be made in China. When the computer arrived, every component was stamped, “Made in China.” I called the service department to complain. But after the company has your money, the good old boys don’t answer the phone. My call was routed to a call center in Bangalore, India, and I hung up the phone.

Taking a page out of their book, I called the sales desk and sure enough, another Southern boy greeted me. Posing as a new buyer, I asked him where my computer would be made. You guessed it — he drawled, “Your computer will be made in Round Rock, Texas or Knoxville, Tenn.”

If you weren’t aware of it, I’ve spent a lifetime studying (and exercising) diplomacy and tact. I immediately called the guy a liar and told him about my computer being made in China. He proceeded to backpedal, saying that my computer was ASSEMBLED in America, using globally procured parts. That’s a big difference, don’t you think?

Of course, those who support the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs claim that American consumers enjoy the benefit of cheaper goods. That is a lot of hogwash.

Just the other day, I was shopping at a local discount store for some silverware, and I found a box of silverware (service for four) made in the U.S.A., for $20. It was surrounded by similar patterns made by the same company, but manufactured offshore. The price on each package was $20.

Make no mistake about it — the American-made product was not marked down — the foreign stuff was marked up. The only beneficiaries from the foreign imports are the manufacturer and the middlemen — not the consumers.

If our leaders hold American manufacturers to wage, benefit and workplace safety standards, then they owe it to Americans not to jeopardize our economic and social stability by embracing and effectively subsidizing foreign manufacturers who violate human rights and engage in economic slavery.

Thanks to the pernicious inattention of American leadership, “freedom of choice” is regressing to “no choice at all.” And that is anathema to the American way of life.

Abe Lincoln once remarked that “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Abe Lincoln forgot to add, “… but you can fool all of Congress all the time.”

Or perhaps it was P. T. Barnum who should have said, “There’s a sucker elected to Congress every minute.”



Roha is a former Meadville city councilman. He can be contacted at jroha@alltel.net.