Monday, March 23, 2009

American Jobs Threatened by Cheap Chinese Condoms

This is from Fox News.

In a move that will cost around 300 American jobs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has decided to purchase condoms from foreign companies — in countries like South Korea and China — because they cost less than American-made prophylactics, the Star reported.
The agency distributes billions of condoms to poor countries around the world, but has previously used only American-made condoms because of "Buy American" regulations, the Star reported. The stimulus bill that recently passed in Congress, however, does not include that provision for condoms.

I can't imagine how much fun I would've had with a condoms provision in the umm...Stimulus...bill.

A USAID official told the Star that the agency considered the jobs that would be lost, but that the foreign condoms cost about 2 cents. American ones cost about 5 cents.
Alatech, an Alabama company that had been USAID's previous sole supplier, protested the contract's move, but the Government Accountability Office rejected the compliant saying the company had no standing, the Star reported.
Condom factory workers are unhappy about the move.
“We pay taxes down here, too, and with all this stimulus money going to save jobs, it seems to me like they should share this contract so they can save jobs here in America,” Fannie Thomas, who has worked at Alatech for 40 years, told the Star.

Ok, seriously....How much would you as a taxpayer be willing to overpay for condoms for someone else to use? What percentage? Is it equal to the percentage you'd be willing to overpay for an AIG exec to get a really nice bonus? How much more would you be willing to pay for an iPod made in your hometown? Or does it only make sense to spend the taxpayers' money in the most efficient way possible?

“I’ve made condoms here for 20 years,” Cindy Robinson, a $9.50-an-hour employee at Alatech, told the Star. “I understand why they bid the contract overseas, but they should buy American first, and I feel they are going back on their word.”

Cheap f***ers.

6 comments:

TarrantLibertyGuy said...

OK... So, no febuttx? What's the world coming to? Oops... The puns are about to start flowing! Arrgh. I can't help it! It's just too hard to avoid (oy vey!) I mean we should just avoid this condom mess and just pull out all together! And if we wait too long, this could mean a long term issue we'll have to deal with...
OK. That was over quickly.

That Damn Libertarian said...

Who's the oriental babe in the photo?

Dr Ralph said...

Reminds me of an old Cold War joke (numerous variations exist):

Trade is beginning to open between the USA and USSR. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev calls President Eisenhower with an request: "To celebrate our two great nations' friendship we'd like to order 1,000,000 condoms."

"Wonderful," says Ike.

"They should be red in color, 12" long and 4" in diameter," says Khrushchev.

"No problem," replied the President.

Khrushchev hangs up and laughs with his aides about what a brilliant stroke of propaganda this will be.

Ike hangs up and calls the CEO of a condom company. "I'd like to place an order for 1,000,000 condoms right away to be sent to Russia."

"Consider it done," says the head of the condom company.

"They have to be red, 12" long and 4" wide."

"Easily done. Anything else?"

"Yeah," says the President, "print 'Made in America, size small' on each one!"

Sew daze said...

I want whatever will fit in one of those condoms.

Sew daze said...

http://thewhitedsepulchres.blogspot.com/

An entertaining photo posted on my blog.

Sew daze said...

Oh yeah, and I want what will fit in that condom over and over and over again!!!