Textiles and Mexicans

As I've said before, I've been buying my jeans from Buckle. When I looked at the tag, I saw they were made in Mexico. This got me thinking about how so many of the good we consume in America (USA) are made in other countries and not in our own.

I know a lot of people gripe about that. They complain how so many farming and textile business are out of country. They talk about it taking jobs from people in our country and how the prices are unfairly low, making it "impossible" for American companies to compete.

Well, I've decided I really don't have a problem with imported goods. What I have a problem with is how companies in these other countries treat their workers.

Are they being paid a wage that supports their family? What are their working conditions like? Are they given reasonable working hours? Do they get some sort of health insurance for them and their families?

I really doubt most companies bother about any of these things, which is a shame. Even if you add in all the things I talked about, in 3rd and 2nd world countries, the labor would still be cheap. And making the jobs attractive like what I said would attract better workers and the end quality of the product would be better.

This is my thinking on it anyway.

The other thing I was thinking about is how American made clothes are really not all that expensive. Yes, a shirt might be $10 instead of $6, but the few extra dollars means the shirt will likely be a better quality and last longer. I'd rather pay $10 for a sturdy shirt that lasts 10 years than pay $6 for a shirt that will fall about within 12 months.

Also, I've noticed American made shirts don't have all those crap logos on them. You can actually find really stylish shaped shirts that are solid colors (white, black, red) and not have some ridiculous design slapped all over them.

So I think the next time I buy a shirt it will probably be from a company that makes them in America. It's good to support American businesses, and I really need some shirts that won't get holes in them from simple washing. (In my side loading washer, which is quite gentle.)