Buzz Paths

Time to break out the Brown Shirts ladies and gentleman.

According to Merriam-Webster Fascism means:

1) often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2) a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control.

King Barry has gone beyond Socialism and has turned our Constitution-based federal republic into a Fascist State! On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

The Director of Communications at the White House Office of Health Reform is Linda Douglass, who worked as a reporter for ABC News from 1998-2006.

Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay fired off a complaint to the head of ABCNEWS:

Dear Mr. Westin:

As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC’s astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC News will air a primetime health care reform “town hall” at the White House with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC’s web news “will all feature special programming on the president’s health care agenda.” This does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president’s health care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.

Today, the Republican National Committee requested an opportunity to add our Party’s views to those of the President’s to ensure that all sides of the health care reform debate are presented. Our request was rejected. I believe that the President should have the ability to speak directly to the America people. However, I find it outrageous that ABC would prohibit our Party’s opposing thoughts and ideas from this national debate, which affects millions of ABC viewers.

In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case, this primetime infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers. President Obama does not hold a monopoly on health care reform ideas or on free airtime. The President has stated time and time again that he wants a bipartisan debate. Therefore, the Republican Party should be included in this primetime event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.

Respectfully,
Ken McKay
Republican National Committee
Chief of Staff

ABCNEWS Senior Vice President Kerry Smith on Tuesday responded to the RNC complaint, saying it contained ‘false premises’:

“ABCNEWS prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers — of all political persuasions — even when others have taken a more partisan approach and even in the face of criticism from extremes on both ends of the political spectrum. ABCNEWS is looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue.

“ABCNEWS alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete editorial control. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience.”

ABC is refusing to air paid ads during its White House health care presentation, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, including a paid-for alternative viewpoint!

The development comes a day after the network denied a request by the Republican National Committee to feature a representative of the party’s views during the Obama special.

Conservatives for Patients Rights requested the rates to buy a 60-second spot immediately preceding ‘Prescription for America’.

Statement from Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients Rights:

“It is unfortunate – and unusual – that ABC is refusing to accept paid advertising that would present an alternative viewpoint for the White House health care event. Health care is an issue that touches every American and all potential pieces of legislation have carried a pricetag in excess of $1 trillion of taxpayers’ money. The American people deserve a healthy, robust debate on this issue and ABC’s decision – as of now – to exclude even paid advertisements that present an alternative view does a disservice to the public. Our organization is more than willing to purchase ad time on ABC to present an alternative viewpoint and our hope is that ABC will reconsider having such viewpoints be part of this crucial debate for the American people. We were surprised to hear that paid advertisements would not be accepted when we inquired and we would certainly be open to purchasing time if ABC would reconsider.”

So Barry and Da Boyz have now taken over just as Hitler and Stalin did back in the 1930’s. God forbid anyone should disagree with Barry and his opinions. He has been shoving his plicies down the throats of America since January 20th. And now he also wants the Supreme Court Justice nomination pushed through by July 13th! Does this give Congress enough time to really dig into Sonia Sotomayor’s background and history? I think not.

And then there was the firing of Inspector General Gerald Walpin.
After being briefed today on President Obama’s firing last week of Gerald Walpin, Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said the president did not abide by the same law that he co-sponsored – and she wrote – about firing Inspectors General.

“The White House has failed to follow the proper procedure in notifying Congress as to the removal of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service,” McCaskill said. “The legislation which was passed last year requires that the president give a reason for the removal.”

McCaskill, a key Obama ally, said that the president’s stated reason for the termination, “Loss of confidence’ is not a sufficient reason.”

She added that she was “hopeful the White House will provide a more substantive rationale, in writing, as quickly as possible.”

Facing bipartisan criticism for the firing, Obama sought to allay congressional concerns with a letter to Senate leaders Tuesday evening explaining his decision. In the letter, White House Special Counsel Norman Eisen wrote that Walpin was “confused” and “disoriented” at a May board meeting, was “unduly disruptive,” and exhibited a “lack of candor” in providing information to decision makers.

“That’s a total lie,” Walpin said of the latter charge. And he said the accusation that he was dazed and confused at one meeting out of many was not only false, but poor rationale for his ouster.

“It appears to suggest that I was removed because I was disabled — based on one occasion out of hundreds,” he said, adding that the administration is grasping at “non-existent straws” to explain its actions.

“I would never say President Obama doesn’t have the capacity to continue to serve because of his (statement) that there are 56 states,” Walpin said, adding that the same holds for Vice President Biden and his “many express confusions that have been highlighted by the media.” Obama mistakenly said once on the campaign trail that he had traveled to 57 states.

So for those of you who are still drinking the Kool-Aide, I hate to say I told you so. But we are in for a very difficult time ahead.

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The next time King Barry and his henchmen imply that the “Housing & Banking Crisis” are the legacy of the Bush administration just look at this NY Times article from 1999.

They think you are stupid and would never remember this stuff.

Just remember:

“A Government Big Enough to Give You Everything You Want, is Strong Enough to Take Everything You Have.”
– Thomas Jefferson

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The speech last night to the joint houses of Congress seemed like more campaign trail talking points. King Barry said nothing new. His entire speech was a drastic change from his normal doom and gloom scare tactics since he was sworn into office. Last night it was more of a warm and fuzzy make you feel good about the country going into the crapper speech. He really needs to bone up on his American History. Between King Barry and “Joey Da Mouth” Biden they are the gaff twins.

OBAMA: “And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”

THE FACTS: Depends what your definition of automobiles, is. According to the Library of Congress, the inventor of the first true automobile was probably Germany’s Karl Benz, who created the first auto powered by an internal combustion gasoline engine, in 1885 or 1886. In the U.S., Charles Duryea tested what library researchers called the first successful gas-powered car in 1893. Nobody disputes that Henry Ford created the first assembly line that made cars affordable.

He talked the talk but didn’t even come close to walking the walk. Watching his lemmings swoon made my stomach turn. Nancy Pelosi looked like a Jack-In-The Box the way she kept popping up after every sentence. The woman needs help.

Stocks fell on Wednesday as investors found anything new in a major speech by King Obama on how he planned to stabilize the economy.

Take a look at some of his assertions:

OBAMA: “We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values.”

THE FACTS: If the administration has come up with a way to ensure money only goes to those who got in honest trouble, it hasn’t said so.

Defending the program Tuesday at a Senate hearing, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said it’s important to save those who made bad calls, for the greater good. He likened it to calling the fire department to put out a blaze caused by someone smoking in bed.

“I think the smart way to deal with a situation like that is to put out the fire, save him from his own consequences of his own action but then, going forward, enact penalties and set tougher rules about smoking in bed.”

Similarly, the head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. suggested this month it’s not likely aid will be denied to all homeowners who overstated their income or assets to get a mortgage they couldn’t afford.

“I think it’s just simply impractical to try to do a forensic analysis of each and every one of these delinquent loans,” Sheila Bair told National Public Radio.

—

OBAMA: “We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before.”

THE FACTS: Oil imports peaked in 2005 at just over 5 billion barrels, and have been declining slightly since. The figure in 2007 was 4.9 billion barrels, or about 58 percent of total consumption. The nation is on pace this year to import 4.7 billion barrels, and government projections are for imports to hold steady or decrease a bit over the next two decades.

—

OBAMA: “We have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade.”

THE FACTS: Although 10-year projections are common in government, they don’t mean much. And at times, they are a way for a president to pass on the most painful steps to his successor, by putting off big tax increases or spending cuts until someone else is in the White House.

Obama only has a real say on spending during the four years of his term. He may not be president after that and he certainly won’t be 10 years from now.

—

OBAMA: “Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.”

THE FACTS: This may be so, but it isn’t only Republicans who pushed for deregulation of the financial industries. The Clinton administration championed an easing of banking regulations, including legislation that ended the barrier between regular banks and Wall Street banks. That led to a deregulation that kept regular banks under tight federal regulation but extended lax regulation of Wall Street banks. Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, later an economic adviser to candidate Obama, was in the forefront in pushing for this deregulation.

—

OBAMA: “In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.”

THE FACTS: First, his budget does not accomplish any of that. It only proposes those steps. That’s all a president can do, because control over spending rests with Congress. Obama’s proposals here are a wish list and some items, including corporate tax increases and cuts in agricultural aid, will be a tough sale in Congress.

Second, waste, fraud and abuse are routinely targeted by presidents who later find that the savings realized seldom amount to significant sums. Programs that a president might consider wasteful have staunch defenders in Congress who have fought off similar efforts in the past.

—

OBAMA: “Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years.”

THE FACTS: While the president’s stimulus package includes billions in aid for renewable energy and conservation, his goal is unlikely to be achieved through the recovery plan alone.

In 2007, the U.S. produced 8.4 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, including hydroelectric dams, solar panels and windmills. Under the status quo, the Energy Department says, it will take more than two decades to boost that figure to 12.5 percent.

If Obama is to achieve his much more ambitious goal, Congress would need to mandate it. That is the thrust of an energy bill that is expected to be introduced in coming weeks.

—

OBAMA: “Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs.”

THE FACTS: This is a recurrent Obama formulation. But job creation projections are uncertain even in stable times, and some of the economists relied on by Obama in making his forecast acknowledge a great deal of uncertainty in their numbers.

The president’s own economists, in a report prepared last month, stated, “It should be understood that all of the estimates presented in this memo are subject to significant margins of error.”

Beyond that, it’s unlikely the nation will ever know how many jobs are saved as a result of the stimulus. While it’s clear when jobs are abolished, there’s no economic gauge that tracks job preservation. The estimates are based on economic assumptions of how many jobs would be lost without the stimulus.

Information gathered from the Associated Press

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My take on the current gas prices is that not only is there a federal tax on each gallon but State and local taxes as well. The Federal Tax of 18.4 cents per gallon is collected in all states in addition to any state or local taxes on gasoline sales. Some of the politicos want to drop the Federal Gas Tax for the summer months. That in my opinion is a waste of time. What we must demand from them is to drop ALL the gasoline taxes and to stop exporting our domestic oil.

Gasoline taxes are levied in various ways in different states. Some states, such as Louisiana, levy a flat rate per gallon. Others charge a tax similar to a sales tax in that it applies to the monetary amount of the gasoline sold. Other states allow local communities to levy gasoline taxes in addition to any state taxes that might be levied.

So for example. In Pennsylvania the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.65. If you subtract all the taxes on that one gallon of gas: $3.65 – .18.4 (federal tax) – .31.1 (state tax) you would really be only paying $3.15 per gallon.

United States Oil production is down 44,000 barrels from last month. Hmmmm… what’s that all about? Now how about this figure… We actually EXPORT over 60,000 barrels per month of oil! Here’s a chart from the Energy Information Administration that breaks it down by country: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_expc_a_EP00_EEX_mbbl_m.htm

Now I ask myself what about all the oil reserves we hear the politicos talking about. I did some snooping and found this:

Thirty-one States have crude oil reserves. The top five are:

* Texas, with 4.9 billion barrels
* Alaska, with 3.9 billion barrels
* California, with 3.4 billion barrels
* Wyoming, with 706 million barrels
* New Mexico, with 696 million barrels.

Also, there are substantial crude oil reserves located in Federal Offshore fields: 3.7 billion barrels in the Gulf of Mexico and 441 million barrels in the Pacific. Offshore refers to that geographic area that lies seaward of the coastline. In general, the coastline is the line of ordinary low water along with that portion of the coast that is in direct contact with the open sea or the line making the seaward limit of inland water.

We have a law in place called the The Energy Policy and Conservation Act’s Statutory Authority for an SPR Drawdown

Here’s what it says:

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 3. As used in this Act:
(8) The term “severe energy supply interruption” means a national energy supply shortage which the President determines –

(A) is, or is likely to be, of significant scope and duration, and of an emergency nature;

(B) may cause major adverse impact on national safety or the national economy; and

(C) results, or is likely to result, from (i) an interruption in the supply of imported petroleum products, (ii) an interruption in the supply of domestic petroleum products, or (iii) sabotage or an act of God.

DRAWDOWN AND SALE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

SEC. 161.

(d)(1) Drawdown and sale of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve may not be made unless the President has found drawdown and sale are required by a severe energy supply interruption or by obligations of the United States under the international energy program.

(2) For purposes of this section, in addition to the circumstances set forth in section 3 (8), a severe energy supply interruption shall be deemed to exist if the President determines that –

(A) an emergency situation exists and there is a significant reduction in supply which is of significant scope and duration;

(B) a severe increase in the price of petroleum products has resulted from such emergency situation; and

(C) such price increase is likely to cause a major adverse impact on the national economy.”

(g)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a continuing evaluation of the Distribution Plan. In the conduct of such evaluation, the Secretary is authorized to carry out test drawdown and distribution of crude oil from the Reserve. If any such test drawdown includes the sale or exchange of crude oil, then the aggregate quantity of crude oil withdrawn from the Reserve may not exceed 5,000,000 barrels during any such test drawdown or distribution.

(h)(1) If the President finds that –

(A) a circumstance, other than those described in subsection (d) [above], exists that constitutes, or is likely to become, a domestic or international energy supply shortages of significant scope or duration; and

(B) action taken….would assist directly and significantly in preventing or reducing the adverse impact of such shortage,

then the Secretary may…draw down and distribute the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

(2) In no case may the Reserve be drawn down under this subsection –

(A) in excess of an aggregate of 30,000,000 barrels with respect to each such shortage;

(B) for more than 60 days with respect to each such shortage;

(C) if there are fewer than 500,000,000 barrels of petroleum product stored in the Reserve; or

(D) below the level of an aggregate of 500,000,000 barrels of petroleum product stored in the Reserve.

If you would like to read the entire Act here is a link to the Department of Energy PDF file.

Why is the government not Releasing Crude Oil From the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists, first and foremost, as an emergency response tool the President can use should the United States be confronted with an economically-threatening disruption in oil supplies.

The Reserve has been used twice under these conditions. First, in 1991, at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm the United States joined its allies in assuring the adequacy of global oil supplies when war broke out in the Persian Gulf. An emergency sale of SPR crude oil was announced the day the war began. The second was in September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the oil production, distribution, and refining industries in the Gulf regions of Louisiana and Mississippi. (Hurricane Katrina’s impact was so great, in fact, that SPR emergency oil loans preceded the President’s decision to drawdown and sell oil from the Reserve. The first of several emergency loan requests from refiners was received and approved within 24 hours of Hurricane Katrina making landfall.)

In addition to national energy emergencies, crude oil has been withdrawn many times from the SPR sites for other reasons. Small quantities of oil are routinely pumped from the storage caverns in tests of the reserve’s equipment. And in several instances, oil has been removed from the caverns under the legal authority to “exchange” SPR crude oil. This authority allows the SPR to negotiate exchanges where the SPR ultimately receives more oil than it released; in other words, the exchanges can be used to acquire additional oil for the SPR. The Hurricane Katrina loans, mentioned above, were conducted using the exchange authority.

The following provides a brief history of the times when crude oil has been released from the SPR:

Crude Oil Sales and Emergency Drawdowns

Twice the Administration has conducted test sales to ensure the readiness of the Reserve and its personnel to carry out a Presidentially-ordered drawdown. The first took place in 1985, the second in the months immediately preceding Operation Desert Storm.

The 1985 Test Sale
Oil has been pumped into and out of the Reserve’s storage sites many times in routine tests. But until 1985, the competitive sales process had never been tested outside of simulations run inside the government. In 1985 Congress and the Administration agreed it was time to test the full system, both the pumps and paperwork, that would be needed to release oil from the Reserve in the event of an energy emergency. When it extended the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in June 1985, Congress authorized the Department to conduct test sales for up to 5 million barrels that would involve the private sector in the competitive sales process for the first time.

Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves

The Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves (NPOSR) has a storied history beginning with its inception in 1912 during the Taft Administration, to the 1998 sale of its supergiant Elk Hills oil field (Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1) to Occidental Petroleum under the Clinton Administration. The infamous Teapot Dome scandal in the 1920s during the Harding Administration may perhaps be the nadir in this storied history, but for the remainder of its almost-100 year history, the Reserves stood well managed to serve the Nation during times of both peace and war.

In response to the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the United States opened the Reserves to full production in 1976. Since that time, petroleum sales produced net revenues of $22 billion to the U.S. Treasury. The sale of the Elk Hills field in 1998 to Occidental Petroleum netted an additional $3.65 billion.

Today, three of the four original Petroleum Reserves (NPR-1, NPR-2, and NPR-4) have been sold or transferred to the Department of the Interior. The only remaining oil reserve managed by the Department of Energy is the Teapot Dome field (NPR-3) in Casper, Wyoming, which is now a stripper field that serves as an oilfield technology testing center.

In addition to the oil reserves, the Government also held oil shale lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming (NOSRs). During the early 1980s, the NOSRs were opened to oil shale development. After a brief hectic period, most oil shale development was abandoned because of a collapse in world oil prices from a high point of $40 per barrel in early 1980 to a low of $15 per barrel by 1989. Subsequently, the Government eventually transferred its NOSRs to BLM and an American Indian tribe.

Today’s high oil prices have once again renewed interest in oil shale and other unconventional strategic fuels development. Even though the NPOSR no longer controls the NOSRs, its unique experience in oil shale technology led Congress – as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 – to designate the Petroleum Reserves program as the lead office to coordinate the creation and implementation of a commercial strategic fuel (oil shale and tar sands) development program for the United States.

Now what about OPEC? The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members include Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

Look at the countries listed. These are terrorists! Give me a break!

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad, Iraq, in September 1960, to unify and coordinate members’ petroleum policies. OPEC members’ national oil ministers meet regularly to discuss prices and, since 1982, to set crude oil production quotas. Original OPEC members include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Between 1960 and 1975, the organization expanded to include Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), and Nigeria (1971). Ecuador and Gabon were members of OPEC, but Ecuador withdrew in December 1992, and Gabon followed suit in January 1995. Although Iraq remains a member of OPEC, Iraqi production has not been a part of any OPEC quota agreements since March 1998. EIA estimates that the current eleven OPEC members account for about 40% of world oil production, and about 2/3 of the world’s proven oil reserves.

So…. making a long story longer, my take on this entire gasoline mess is that we should tell OPEC to shove it, stop exporting all our domestic oil, lose the state and federal gasoline taxes and maybe, just maybe, prices will go down to a reasonable level.

I strongly urge everyone to contact their State legislators and demand that the gasoline taxes be repealed. You can contact them here.

Two great resources for checking gas prices are:

http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/245.html

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/usgastaxes.asp

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Recently I purchased a set of Taylormade TP woods, Driver, 3 and 5 woods. The price was ridiculous to say the least but they have a great reputation and are supposedly some of the finest golf clubs around. The three clubs cost me $897.97 not including sales tax.

Now you would think for that price they would be made in the good old US of A. WRONG! Upon closer inspection of my new found babies, I noticed on the shaft of each club a label that reads ( and in VERY small print I might add): “Clubhead Made In China, Shaft Made In China, Assembled in the USA”. Click on the photo for a full size image.

So what’s that all about? If these clubs cost Taylormade $50.00 total to have made in a sweat shop in China it’s alot. Nowhere on Taylormade’s website does it say that the components of each club is Made In China.However, after some careful digging I found that Taylormade Golf is owned and operated by Adidas. Going to the Adidaswebsite I found the following:

What We Do

For over 80 years the adidas Group has been part of the world of sports on every level, delivering state-of-the-art sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Today, the adidas Group is a global leader in the sporting goods industry and offers a broad portfolio of products. Products from the adidas Group are available in virtually every country of the world. Our strategy is simple: continuously strengthen our brands and products to improve our competitive position and financial performance.

adidas Footwear, apparel, accessories

Reebok Footwear, apparel and accessories

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Golf Equipment: metalwoods, irons putters, golf balls, footwear, apparel and accessories

Activities of the company and its more than 150 subsidiaries are directed from the Group’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Also located in Herzogenaurach are the strategic business units for Running, Soccer and Tennis as well as the Research and Development Center. Additional key corporate units are based in Portland, Oregon in the USA, the domicile of adidas America Inc. and home to the strategic business units Basketball, Adventure and Alternative Sports. Reebok Headquarters are located in Canton, Massachusetts. TaylorMade-adidas Golf is based in California. The company also operates design studios and development departments at other locations around the world, corresponding to the related business activity.

adidas Sourcing Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary headquartered in Hong Kong, is responsible for worldwide sourcing.

Effective December 31, 2007, the adidas Group employed 31,344 people.

Our Values:
The adidas Group strives to be the global leader in the sporting goods industry with sports brands built on a passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle.

We are consumer focused and therefore we continuously improve the quality, look, feel and image of our products and our organizational structures to match and exceed consumer expectations and to provide them with the highest value.

We are innovation and design leaders who seek to help athletes of all skill levels achieve peak performance with every product we bring to market.

We are a global organization that is socially and environmentally responsible, creative and financially rewarding for our employees and shareholders.

We are committed to continuously strengthening our brands and products to improve our competitive position.

We are dedicated to consistently delivering outstanding financial results.

So, needless to say I feel totally ripped off. Sure they are dedicated to consistantly delivering outstanding financial results. All their stuff is MADE IN CHINA for a fraction of what it would cost here in the States.

After that little eye opener, I decided to look around the house and see what else wasn’t made here. WHat I found was mind boggling! Here’s what I found:

2 computer desks purchased from Staple’s were MADE IN CHINA

My flatbed scanner MADE IN CHINA

Kodak Easyshare Digital Camera MADE IN CHINA

3 Hewlett Packard 4300 Printers MADE IN CHINA (Label Printed in USA) Can you believe that?!

Hewlitt Packard Computer Monitor – MADE IN TAIWAN

Breadman Bread Machine – MADE IN KOREA

Mr. Coffee Machine – MADE IN CHINA

Mr. Coffee coffee grinder – MADE IN CHINA

Hamilton Beach Electric Teapot – MADE IN CHINA

Bionaire Air Purifier – MADE IN CHINA

Radio Shack Cordless Telephone – “Custom Made for Radio Shack in CHINA”

Cuisinart Litttle Pro Plus Food Processor – MADE IN CHINA

Ryobi Drill Press – MADE IN CHINA

Sharp CD Player – MADE IN CHINA

Techniques Stereo Receiver – MADE IN SINGAPORE

Black & Decker Circular Saw – MADE IN MEXICO

And here’s my best find……

I bought a US Open hat last year in an Offical PGA Store at O’Hare Airport for $24.95. Now, the US Open is the United States Open Golf Tournament. One of the biggest run by none other than the USGA. The United States Golf Association. Key words here are “United States”. Guess what the label inside the hat reads? You guessed it MADE IN CHINA!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Musical instrument manufacturers are dropping like flies. Most of the biggies Conn-Selmer, Yamaha are now having alot of instruments made in China and still selling them at their old Made In USA prices. In the industry these instruments are called ISO’s (Instrument Shaped Objects) because they are far from a quality musical instrument. Some of the instruments are so bad, most decent repair people will not even touch them when they come in.

I’ll save my musical instrument rant for another post.

So, look around your house and see what is actually made in the USA. You will be suprised at what you don’t find. And everyone wonders why our economy is in the crapper. I’m wondering myself. If all these American companies are having all their products made elsewhere VERY cheaply and they are reaping huge profits, how is it that we are in an economic down turn? My guess is because ALL THE AMERICAN WORKERS WHO WOULD NORMALLY BE MAKING THESE PRODUCTS ARE OUT OF WORK! So our really great American Companies are doing business and financing a Communist country. It’s almost laughable except that it’s killing our country.

And now Congress wants to give Illegal Aliens worker visas. I’m sorry but I just don’t get it.

Here’s a book I just ordered and can’t wait to read. A friend suggested that I read it.

And finally:A 2002 Farm Bill passed by Congress mandated country-of-origin labeling for seafood, beef, lamb, pork, fish, fruits, vegetables and peanuts, but the Bush administration has delayed its implementation for everything except seafood until October 2008.So why are they waiting? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Here’s an update. I emailed Taylormade on March 27th.. Here’s the initial response I received:

From: TaylorMade Golf Consumer Feedback <consumer.feedback@tmag.com>
Reply-To: TaylorMade Golf Consumer Feedback <consumer.feedback@tmag.com>

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:24:42 -0400

<> Thank you for contacting TaylorMade Golf,

We value your questions and comments and believe wholeheartedly in
listening to and servicing our customers. We will respond to your email
as promptly as possible, usually within one business day. Should your
question be of an urgent nature please feel free to contact our Customer
Service Department at 800-888-2582 (6A-5P Pacific Time) and we will be
more than happy to assist you. We apologize for any inconveniences.

In the meantime, hit ’em long and straight with TaylorMade clubs and
Maxfli balls, and look good doing it in adidas shoes and apparel!

Sincerely,

The staff at TaylorMade-adidas Golf

http://taylormadegolf.com
http://adidasgolf.com
http://rossaputters.com
http://maxfli.com

Since I never heard anything from their customer circus department I emailed them yesterday and sent them a link to this article. Here is the reponse I received today:

<> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:02:48 -0700
To: Rich <rwszxxx@xxxx.com>
Subject: Re: Re: Your message has been received by TaylorMade Golf (KMM2001361V65034L0KM)
From: TaylorMade Golf Consumer Feedback <consumer.feedback@tmag.com>
Reply-To: TaylorMade Golf Consumer Feedback <consumer.feedback@tmag.com>
Thanks for the email.

I can assure you that the golf industry is very competitive, and
TaylorMade does not try to take advantage of the customer with
ridiculous pricing; the market just wouldn’t allow it. One would be hard
pressed to find any major manufacturer in the golf industry not using
components from China. It is necessary to compete. We are committed to
making the best performance golf equipment in the world. The components
from China do not deviate from this mission, as the best players in the
world use these clubs on the PGA Tour. When many companies compete, the
consumer wins. There are many costs associated with club making and
distribution, and making our clubs in China is one way can keep consumer
cost at a minimum.

Thank you again and we wish you continued success with your golf game!

Best Regards

http://taylormadegolf.com
http://adidasgolf.com

<> Not even a real person’s name on the email. I am at a loss for words. “The consumer wins”?!?!?!? I think not. THe consumer gets ripped off.

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