sandra carrington-smith: blog 
sandracarringtonsmith's blog
quality vs. greed: are we endangering our children's lives?
Published September 19, 2008Views: 192
In the wake of four babies dying, and 6,200 having fallen ill after consuming milk powder tainted with melamine – a chemical used in combination with formaldehyde to produce a resin employed in manufacturing countertops and fire-retardant materials – people have glimpsed in horror at how far mankind can go in the name of greed.
Last year, many pets in the United States became ill and died as a result of the same chemical, found in pet food produced in China.
How low are we going to sink – and how many people need to die – before we realize that we are sacrificing lives to the god of money?
Small domestic businesses have almost disappeared because of large corporations that opt for cheap labor at the expense of safety and the economic interest of the American people.
Politicians talk a big game about “saving” the country before being elected, yet few of them – if any – have ever truly established a program to help small American businesses stand on their feet.
Having a country which relies on its own strength and the labor of its own people is what the forefathers probably envisioned. If George Washington or Lincoln could see how shallow we have become, they would turn in their graves.
Buying at large corporate chains surely has its advantages- everybody, after all, is always looking for a bargain. But what kind of chips are we bargaining with?
As reported by CNN, just last October, 69,000 toys produced in China were recalled in the US because of lead paint. In February, Valentine lollipops were taken off the market because bits of metal were found inside the wrapping. How many other threats are lurking on our stores’ shelves?
Greed is a dangerous beast. On a smaller scale, everybody indulges in it somehow. We have witnessed greed in the dishonest gouging of gas prices, and in the way a lot of our own citizens will not think twice before they scam others to make a buck. We see greed in the way we relate to each other on a daily basis - everybody is out to take care of number one.
When someone returned my son’s wallet – after he lost it in the parking lot of the mall on his way to buy a game system – everybody was surprised when I told them that none of the money was taken.
We shouldn’t live in a world where we are surprised by people taking care of one another; rather, we should be appalled by dishonesty, and should start being less greedy ourselves.
Maybe, by overcoming our egoistic urges to take advantage of what we didn’t earn, and learning how to live with a few less TVs in our houses, we can truly do our part to make this world - or at least our country - a better place.
Filed under: Consumer
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GOLO member since August 28, 2008
September 19, 2008 2:35 p.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
September 19, 2008 12:08 p.m.
GOLO member since August 28, 2008
September 19, 2008 10:50 a.m.
I think the government can be pretty ruthless in China. When I hear about forced abortions, the poverty, and the pure fear the citizens feel in their own homeland it makes me so grateful to live in the United States. We have a long way to go, but we have the freedom to get together and pray for it.
GOLO member since September 18, 2008
September 19, 2008 10:40 a.m.
GOLO member since September 19, 2008
September 19, 2008 8:26 a.m.
GOLO member since August 28, 2008
September 19, 2008 8:21 a.m.
Their need to try to control their population by limiting each family to "One child only" has collided with this event which has potenially caused kidney problems for thousands of these peoples' only children.
Of course their gov. won't admit that it may be very wide spread throughout China and may not know for months or years where all of the supply may have gone. Remote areas may not know about tainted formula at all. It's rumored that they've known for at least 6 months but didn't report it because of the Olympics.
For the people of a country who at one time killed their infant girls so they could try again to have a son to carry on the family name it's coming full circle. Now thousands of their beloved infants have lifelong illnesses. Greed is no respector of even a infant's life. Sad
GOLO member since August 8, 2007
September 19, 2008 8:19 a.m.
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
September 19, 2008 8:17 a.m.
GOLO member since July 20, 2007
September 19, 2008 8:12 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
September 19, 2008 8:10 a.m.
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