>>Yes the consumer has a very simple and powerful say. They can simply choose not to buy stuff made outside their country of choice. Wal-Mart is driven by the profit motive, sure, but ...
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>If at some point in the future you can walk into a Safeway, Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, K-Mart, Rothe's ... and see an aisle clearly marked "Support Communism, Support Oppresion - made in China' and decked out with red flags, and another aisle decked out in red white and blue with large signs saying 'Support America, Support Freedom, Support Democracy'. Then yes consumer choice becomes a possibility.
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>On the other hand, when you are obliged to completely dismantle something, or wade through three levels of packaging to find the micro-dot that states 'Made in China'. Then no, consumers are just sheep to be herded.


Hi Houston. Not quite but nice idea :)

First of all there are large and obvious products like cars or computer parts or clothing that we all know where it is manufactured.

Secondly, ignorance is not a defence. If its really important to someone to only buy products made in their country of choice then its important enough to spend the time to investigate it.

Thirdly, your post doesnt address the fundamental issues raised in the outsourcing / offshore production debate. Consumers want high quality at low price and investors in companies like Wal-Mart want returns on their investments.

Fourth, this is not about communism vs. democracy. Its economics. We make stuff, they make stuff, we buy stuff, they buy stuff, we all make and buy stuff together <g>!