Setting a good example...

There's been a lot of angst and gnashing of teeth lately over a series of products ranging from clothing to hygiene items manufactured in China that are, shall we say, of sub par quality. Many folks are asking why this has appeared so suddenly, and I think I may have a theory (first of all it's not all that sudden):

2002:


The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the following recalls:

Hair Dryers. Remington Products Co, LLC has announced the recall of about 3,000 hair dryers made in China. The hair dryers are not equipped with an appliance leakage current interrupter plug to cut off electrical current in case of contact with water.

Extension Cords. STK International Inc has recalled approximately 190,000 extension cords made in China, which have undersized wires, presenting a shock hazard.

And second of all, when the Chinese Communist government made the decision to move from corrupt Communism to corrupt Corporatism as the basic model for the country, who do you think they looked to for inspiration?

Ford:

On June 9, 1978, Ford Motor Company agreed to recall 1.5 million Ford Pinto and 30,000 Mercury Bobcat sedan and hatchback models for fuel tank design defects which made the vehicles susceptible to fire in the event of a moderate-speed rear end collision. The action was the result of investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defect Investigations (Case #C7-38), sparked by a petition from Center for Auto Safety, publicity generated by national publication expose of the hazard (Mother Jones News Magazine, "Pinto Madness" by Mark Dowie, Sept/Oct, 1977) and publicity over the largest punitive damages awarded by a California jury to a young man who had been severely injured in a Pinto fuel tank fire (Grimshaw v Ford).

Chevrolet:

General Motors has refused to voluntarily recall and retrofit its pickup trucks with saddlebag gas tanks, even though its own internal records and testing experience in other models, and in proto-types, show that it has long mastered the engineering technology to enhance the safety of the gas tanks on these trucks.

Brunswick:

"Hey, Lou, I'll have anoth--" **CCCRRAACCKK** "WHOAAAAA!!" *THUD*

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Frameworx Table Height Chairs and Bar Stools

Units: About 22,400

Manufacturer: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill.

Hazard: The down shaft on the seat plate assembly can fracture, which can cause an occupant of the seat to fall.

Incidents/Injuries: Brunswick has received reports of 20 incidents in which the seat plate assembly has failed. Three injuries resulting from falling from a seat have been reported.

Good old American ingenuity, marketing and sales skills. That's where the Chinese looked for guidance. Of course, at least one of the men in charge let his conscience get the better of him:

Zhang Shuhong, the boss of a major supplier to Mattel, hung himself at the weekend after his export licence was suspended and 1.5m products withdrawn because of safety fears about toys sold in the US, Britain and other parts of Europe.

But he may have just been taking matters into his own hands before the Chinese government decided to:

The FDA issued a warning Friday after toothpaste containing DEG was detected in a shipment seized at the border. The government says at least 100 people died after taking cough syrup containing DEG, an industrial solvent used in paint and antifreeze.

China's dismal drug-safety record was underscored this week by a Chinese court's decision to sentence to death the country's former top drug regulator.

You couldn't make this shit up no matter how hard you tried.