TIRADE (More Crap Made in China)
New egg timer, like my mom’s
Worked well two times; third time bombs
(more crap made in China)
Coffee pots are always new
‘cause last year’s just went ker-phloo
(more crap made in China)
Got our broken toilet fixed
One week later, handle sticks
(more crap made in China)
Used to be American-made
Goods that lasted, made the grade
(no more crap from China)
Give our people back their jobs
Screw the greedy corporate slobs
(no more crap from China)
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
I mean, really. Is it too much to ask, things that work? Why haven’t we gone to Congress, to the White House lawn, and thrown ALL our crap over the fence in protest? Why aren’t we speaking out about OUR OLD JOBS vs. retraining for “new industry”? This is not the fault of the Chinese PEOPLE – it’s the American multinationals, providing “deep discounts” that people snap up without giving a thought to the enslaved children and underpaid workers who toil for pennies, while the manufacturer makes millions. Think of Bangladesh, too.
We have enough kids graduating to fill the “new industry” jobs… let’s put folks back to work, doing what they already know how to do.
This is my own form, the barlette, which has two or three lines followed by (a comment in parentheses). For ABC Wednesday, which is on the letter “T” for trash… trade… trust???!! Also at my poetic pond, Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, and my hangout for all things pencil: Poets United. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
Amen, amen, amen.
coalblack
I was just thinking about this yesterday. The people who run the world are a bunch of money-minded asshats.
The Writers Village
wow. A lot of “stuff” in such a short space…
The poem was excellent. A “Barlette” (Stuff scribbled on a napkin in a bar, maybe?).
I very much agree with the content/themes. Especially when it comes to the gross (and very gross) profits of multinationals and their total contempt for their fellow human beings and the quality of this planet (remember we declared them people).
So when are you planning this revolt (because dumping all this stuff could be revolting!). Count me in. Where do we meet?
Randy
Roger Green
You on a tirade? Who would have thought…
I was actually hoping for oil to keep rising in price, which would make imports less more expensive to bring in…
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Mary
I have taken to reading labels on canned goods and frozen foods. Who would ever guess that on my pantry shelf I would find a can of PEARS canned in China? (Yikes, and this is the country that produced dogfood that sickened dogs.) Read labels on frozen veggies too. I was surprised when I started doing this and finding that American brand names often have foods produced elsewhere. Not specifically China…other countries as well.
PassionPoet
LOL …. I’m not American but I can relate … so many things made in China… it was a fun read with a good message 🙂 Loved it, Amy 🙂
McGuffy Ann
Yes. Bill lost his job/career, 35 years in manufacturing due to the US outsourcing to China & Mexico. He worked his way up from running a machine to Inspection to Engineering to Sales. Then he lost his job. Now he is an over the road truckdriver, gone 6 wks at a time, trying to hep move the economy. It is more productive than sitting…I could go on…
on thehomefrontandbeyond
You go to the white house and I will leave my stuff on Parliament Hill in Ottawa–
Carver
You are on my pet peeve. What bothers me are major appliances that used to last a lifetime. I have the proof because when my parents bought a summer place, my Grandmother’s old stove, refrigerator and water heater worked great through to when my parents died and the summer place was sold. I’ve had to replace my central heating twice in my house, my stove top and oven once, I’ve had several refrigerators, I’ve had to replace washers and dryers I bought new and after replacing the dishwasher twice I went back to washing dishes by hand. Not to mention microwave and toaster ovens. What bothers me with large items as much as anything is the waste and how they end up in dumps.
Your comment on mine made me laugh. I’m guessing at least a few babies got their start in that truck.
Carver, ABC Wed. Team
Kerry O'Connor
I couldn’t agree more. Cheap clothing imports from China have put local manufacturers out of business, and eradicated thousands of jobs for Africans too, in a country with rampant unemployment.
lesliebc
Totally agree with you cuz it’s the same here in Canada! In our day, we repaired things – we didn’t toss them out and buy something new! No point in purchasing any warranties anymore either. You GO Girl…
Leslie
abcw team
I HAVE A VOICE
you said it girl! Raise the ensign!
Sherry Blue Sky
You have nailed it, kiddo. Appalling on so many levels : the abhorrent conditions people in Third World countries work under for mere pennies. The corporate stranglehold on the entire planet – they dont care if the planet expires, they’ll be dead by then and meanwhile filthy rich now(I now understand that term so much better). AND the resulting North American unemployment in order to “balance trade negotiations.” It is ALL crap. Instead of eating our own pears, as Mary says, we likely export pears to China so they can can them and ship them back to us. IT IS ALL INSANE. Okay, well, you know how these topics rile me up! Keep writing ’em!
bonniejtoomey2013
HI, Amy.
Thanks for your oh so kind words regarding “Up the Falls”, you are very insightful, I was writing about my fourth child in that one. Regarding your poem “Trade” I love, love the third verse with all of its word play and innuendo – you strike a raw nerve in the poem using satire and humor, well done, and…not so many words say quite a lot.
bonniejtoomey2013
HI, again – just noticed it is “Tirade” – but the word Trade worked for me!!! 🙂 Great subliminal message.
Sara v
As someone who’s A/C and washing machine just broke on the same day….I’m all in. With you 101% 🙂
J Cosmo Newbery
Same problem here in Australia too. Nothing lasts.
Pattie Blair
Fabulous post! I had that exact timer; in fact, did you find it in the trash? Love your blog site, and I signed up to follow you
Murray Castro
Presidential candidates talk about the promise of “green collar” jobs — an economy with millions of workers installing solar panels, weatherizing homes, brewing biofuels, building hybrid cars and erecting giant wind turbines. Labor unions view these new jobs as replacements for positions lost to overseas manufacturing and outsourcing. Urban groups view training in green jobs as a route out of poverty. And environmentalists say they are crucial to combating climate change.
purplepeninportland
I so agree! Why is it that our anger and frustration does not get through?