PrintMarch 23, 2009
Third World: Get Your Chinese Condoms free from America!
The U.S. government in its wisdom has distributed some 10 billion condoms to Third World countries to help prevent AIDS. Those condoms were made in the U.S.A. and distributed by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID -- think about that acronym for a second.)
Not anymore. According to Mike McGraw writing for the Kansas City Star:
In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.
The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.
"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.
The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.
"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.
Notice that is was our Congress that stuck in the language costing Americans 300 jobs. And that it was “gallows humor” Obama who signed the bill.
There must be new political signs springing up all over China: “Save Your job! Vote Democrat.”
