Mexican-American comic Paul Rodriguez had a memorable joke. Foreign wars, he said, is how Americans learn geography.
If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus plague, I wouldn’t have known that a majority of U.S. pharmaceuticals are made in China.
How sick is that?
I knew a lot of our meds are manufactured in Ireland, but there’s less risk in that because Ireland is a friend that shares values with the United States. Almost all of the 5 million people who live in Ireland have relatives among the 33 million Americans of Irish descent.
Despite the fact that the U.S. has 4 million Americans of Chinese descent, China is not our friend.
China is not quite an enemy, but close. More of a competitor with a goal of replacing America as the world’s No. 1 power. They don’t even make a secret of it.
And we are paving the way for them.
We are financing our own defeat.
“Chinese pharmaceutical companies have supplied more than 90% of U.S. antibiotics, vitamin C, ibuprofen and hydrocortisone, as well as 70% of acetaminophen and 40-45% of heparin in recent years, according to Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations,” the New York Times reported.
This country should never be dependent on another country, especially a hostile one, for medicines needed by Americans. This is a strategic vulnerability that could be fatal in an emergency.
By edict, tax break, or other means, the U.S. government must induce American manufacturers to return to these shores, for our own self defense.
For the past 50 years, American manufacturers have fled their home country to produce overseas at lower cost than in the U.S. There have been two consequences of this.
First, good. Prices have been kept low for consumers.
Second, bad. Millions of Americans became unemployed as their jobs were shipped overseas.
How many wake up calls do we need?
I am willing to pay more for a shirt made in the U.S.A. because it keeps my neighbors working and contributes to the health of the American economy.
Over the years, I have written about my preference for American-made products, increasingly difficult to find as everything from tooth brushes to cell phones are manufactured in China.
You have to look hard, but there are “buy American” web sites, such as the Made in America store.
Knowing what we know now, does it sound jingoistic or dangerously nationalistic to prefer American?
We trade with our friends and our friends don’t cheat. China does. Chinese manufacturers don’t work for stockholders or consumers. They work for the state.
More than a decade ago, I wrote a column titled, “Why are you buying anything from China?”
In that particular case, it had to do with tainted food from China sold in the U.S. There are well-documented cases of dog food manufactured in China killing or sickening American pets.
How many wake up calls do we need?
We are on the wrong end of a $400 billion trade deficit with China, they steal our intellectual property, permit knockoffs of designer American merchandise and turn a blind eye to illegal, lethal drugs that are shipped from there to here.
How many wake up calls do we need?
I have known this for years. Its one reason why I have always gone to great lengths to protect my health using natural methods, so that I would not be dependent on Chinese pharmaceuticals, yes, including vaccines. You might want to read the book, CHINA RX. Guess when the almost 100% reliance on Chinese drugs began? Hint: not with Trump. Trump is trying to change our heavy reliance on not just Chinese drugs, but Chinese goods in general.
We conspiracy theorists have been vindicated yet again.
Could these have been made in China? Improperly made vaccines can do this. Research the Cutter Labs tragedy from the 1950s. Also research all the drugs that had to be recalled that were made in China, like valsartan.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/nov/28/polio-outbreaks-in-four-african-countries-caused-by-mutation-of-strain-in-vaccine
Thank you, again, Captain Obvious, for another well written and researched posting. Having been in the medical devices biz for most of my engineering life, I have been generally aware of your salient points mentioned above. But the past 10 years have been the worst regarding China trade and medical items. Some of the more “close to home” clues came about with the realization by my wife that something was wrong with certain of the meds she takes. She had to find alternatives.
It’s amazing that we’ve managed to be become, basically, oil independent recently (of course, that could change this year – I hope not). What have we done to become so dependent upon an enemy? The almighty buck wins again!
Do you understand “Captain Obvious” is actually an insult?
Sorry Stu. Didn’t know that. Been living a sheltered life of name calling, I guess. I looked it up, and you are correct. I stand corrected. When I first came across it 30+ years ago it was not used as an insult, but rather to mean that someone of knowledgeable stature was stating what no one else was – even if it was staring everyone else right in the face. Again, I apologize. It was not my intent to insult.
Apology accepted. I suspected you did not know.
Most every American will agree with you completely, excepting the billionaire CEOs. Corporate greed caused the closure of American factories. If CEOs could be content with only being millionaires rather than billionaires the American workforce might still have all the benefits our fathers had. A full time job, health care, pension.
My reflux meds are made in Israel. My Aleve is made in India. My clothes, dishes, and silverware were made in China, as was my computer and telephone. My car was made in Korea. The easiest accusation to make for all this outsourcing is ‘corporate greed’, without the accuser realizing that corporations are owned by the shareholders — millions of ordinary Americans who have invested in the nation’s businesses. And why did so many companies either move South or outsource? Well, look deeply into the issue of unions and their stranglehold on business in the 1950s and you will begin to get some idea. (E.g., did you know that in the 1950s the USA was the world’s largest producer of steel? Did you know that the US Steel union contract gave every worker 13 weeks of paid vacation, the union wanting to have one-fourth of the workforce off duty at any given time, so more steel workers could be employed? How’s that for ‘corporate greed’?) Why is it okay for a shopper to seek the lowest price on an object, yet it becomes ‘greed’ when management seeks to lower production costs? These problems are not to be solved with name-calling or finger pointing.
Well, since I never mentioned “corporate greed,” you need a new red herring. Tony noted union contracts are signed by both sides and you reference the “strangle hold” unions had in the ‘50s — which was one of the most prosperous decades the U.S. ever had, with all boats rising.
That is why the unions had a stranglehold: the constant threat of strikes to stall the prosperity. And you, Stu, know how the unions hurt newspapers. As an old Bulletin employee, I could give you some examples, if you want them.
Vince,
Don’t misunderstand me. I come from a union family. The difference between my family and most is this. You are there to prove your worth and to make life better for all. Union and non-union. Sorry to say, most people hide behind the union shroud and sit on their collective asses with their hands out. “what’s in it for me “. I worked all over the country and out of the country. I’ve never seen it so bad, anywhere, as here in Philly. ( watch the movie Hoffa. see if you recognize anybody )
Tony
Could you pick a worse example? The nonunion Bulletin died 40 years ago, never won a Pulitzer, the union Inky and News are still here and have 20 Pulitzers.
Only picked the Bulletin as both of us have Philly newspapers in our history. If you insist… how about Hostess Baking? Gone, because of unions. The Pittsburgh Press newspaper? Gone because of unions.
Eastern Airlines? Gone because of unions. Et cetera.
For someone as smart as you. VERY simplistic thinking. For one, as a former travel writer, I can tell you mismanagement killed Eastern, not unions. Proof? OTHER unionized airlines survived.
Ditto National Airlines and other carriers that went under.
THE END
One of your responders used the words ‘corporate greed.’ I was responding to her.
The Word Press format stinks. I could not tell whomyou were responding to.
I did not want to point out HER name. Get it? HER name?
I just Mr Magoogled ‘Neil Cavuto/Donald Trump interviews,’ hoping for all the different times Neil had him as a guest. All that came up was a recent spat they had? I haven’t been watching for at least a year, rather getting more variety in a zillion other places.
Before he was president Neil had him on many many times usually via phone.
Maybe over a 15 year period?
Trump was always harping on China, how they take advantage of us and the need to bring back mfg.to our country. Hasn’t changed his tune since his election.
I first heard about active drug ingredients from China on Tucker Carlson about 2-3 wks. ago. Now it’s everywhere.
Way back(1910-20-30 or so) I don’t know, even earlier—employers mistreated their employees, so unions organized and grew and some of them (esp teachers) got greedy and now we’re finger pointing the corporations. Round and round! When I Iived in the right to work state it seemed everybody was happy.
POI FDR was against Public unions.
I’ve been a member for 53 years. We couldn’t strike, thank God!
Tom,
DuPont was/is a good example of the past/present. Being the largest employer in the State of Delaware, they served the people and the state and the country. True, like all capitalists, they played both sides of the fence. ( I think it’s still legal to sell arms, etc to both sides of a war ). But they did treat their employees well. Good bennies, working conditions,opportunity for education and advancement – you name it. Somehow, something went wrong and the unions gained a foothold in the plants. I was working in Tidewater, Delaware – BP refinery – at the time, when Pete DuPont was running for Governor on the “right to vote” platform. He got in, and the rest is history.
Tony
Tony
“Right to work”, not ‘vote’ right?
Tom
woopsie !
Tom,
BTW; I, like you, was gainfully employed by the city of Philadelphia. PWD to be exact. District Council 33 is a big joke. Unions in the city are a big joke. If they ever did good – for the union members – it was a long time ago. Today, they take care of a chosen few. The contracts are hammered out with a toy plastic hammer. At the end of arbitration, the workers get what was pretty much agreed to from the start. The big difference. You don’t move up in paygrade during arbitration.
Tony
I hear you, Tony. When ever the city needs more money they close Fh’s or Brownout’s. No one really notices unless someone dies! All hell breaks loose until the deceased is buried. Then, same old shit. If your trash piles up for a month, hell doesn’t cease! The guys and girls today have it pretty good, as they should. Including great protective gear. The OT is gone for the present day FF, but they had their share for a long stretch. OT in my era was zero. The big boys that run the international are sitting pretty. The DROP was meant for uniform employees……city council changed that and we know what happened.
I’ve been in a union, very active, shop steward, gung ho. And I’ve been on the outside looking in. Learned a lot, I see and understand both sides. I’m grateful that we were banned from striking. But still have that bitter taste in my mouth when I look at my pension.
And now with the market will there be a pension when the scourge runs its course.
PS reopening FH with Fed money will help, a silver lining!
Tom
HAPPY SUNDAY !!!
Nice to see some new talent making comments.
I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that our country was sold out. I also wholeheartedly agree that their is a problem with quality control ( or lack of ) in foreign countries.
I have a problem with people blaming the unions for all of our problems. Last time I looked, it takes two sides to sign a contract. It’s very true that the the unions gave a boost to the working man. It is also true that things got out of hand. Corporate greed permitted the unions to gain more than a foothold in the work place. Absolute stupidity allowed the auto industry to go to hell. FYI. U.S. Steel had a steel plant in Italy in the ’50s. Why ? PROFIT ?
It is my belief that everyone had a hand in our demise. When the stealing started, people yelled”I want some”, rather than calling for a cop. The auto industry’s poor performance and lack of quality opened the door to Japan. The steel industry priced itself out allowing Japan to ship in low price, inferior material. Etc, Etc, Etc.
Here’s a unknown fact. We used to produce very high quality aircraft. Completely built here in the USA. Quality control was stringent and the best materials were used. I used to say that the only time a A/c fell out of the sky, it was because of pilot error. That was very true. With A/c being built overseas – not so much the pilot as the manufacturers.
The solution is simple. Bring back American manufacturing. Produce a quality product, at a reasonable price, paying livable wages and yielding a profit. Simple solution, impossible goal ?
Tony
Great column Stu.
I, too, would be willing to pay more for items made in the U.S.A. However, the greedy scum-sucking people at the top of a number of business do not want that to happen. Include in that group many shareholders who also put bigger profits ahead of safety.
You fight the only way you can. The only China stuff I buy is Apple, and I have complained to Apple, and it is bringing back some work to U.S. Automation also will bring work back, although that is not a lot of employees.
I’ve never owned a foreign car. My Ford is parked out front. Nothing grinds my gears more than someone who gripes about the economy and then buys a car that was made in Japan, Korea, etc.
Having been screwed by GM’s terrible warranty and service on a turkey Chevrolet, I thought a Ford would be my next car…until the warranty question arose. Went for a Ford, bought a Hyundai. Why? Ford’s warranty offered was 50,000 miles, Hyundai’s 100,000.
my kia made in ga usa
Dan,
Honda was first in the ’70s. Then the floodgates opened, because we allowed it to happen.
Now, foreign cars are manufactured here, but the profits go back home to Japan, China, Korea, Viet Nam………
get the picture. Bring everything back home !
Tony
American manufacturers of all types, not just pharmaceuticals have been looking for alternative sources of manufacture since Trump began his trade wars. The Corona virus has only sped up that process. China will never dominate as a place for manufacture again.
The bad news, however, is that these companies are not necessarily going to bring those facilities back here. They are looking at SE Asia, India, (who has been aggressively marketing their better-than-average response to the virus, with 4 times our population)) and even Africa.
The points made in your column of 10 years ago, were shared by many who opposed letting China into the WTO. You are entitled to one big “I Told You So”!
If only they would listen to me. 🙂
That’s what I tell my wife. Uh, me…not you.
A comment as a sub-set of the China discussion (as China is supposedly where the coronavirus began).
Today’s (Sunday) Inquirer makes this statement (front page): …the U.S. [is] on course to see more of its people die than in the wars of Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq combined.” Really? To date approximately 9,400 have died. The combined deaths of all those wars listed is 97,982. Why does the Inquirer feel it is good journalism to foment fear rather than simply report FACTS?
Besides China the other big drug producer especially generics is India and there manufacturing has come to a halt. One of the biggest problems for the American consumer and the price of drugs is prescription plans and the insurance being inured to the system. For fifty years comsumers had no idea what the cost of drugs was. The concept was 1, 2 or 10 dollar copay. It wasn’t until recently has the actually cost of drugs come to the forefront because of the loss of company insurance plans. You have a prime example now with hydrochlorquinine. I’ve been taking this drug for 31 years and has been approved for use since 1955 but has been in use since the 1600s. I original paid $9.00 for 180 pills then in the mid 90s the stop manufacturing it. In the late 90s it made a come back at $80-90 for 180 pills. The last few years it been around $115-120. Approximately 6 years ago I stated getting it from Canada for $45.00 for 180 made by the same manufacturer the I received in the States. By mistake my Doctor sent a script to my insurance company on March 4th and they wanted $368. For years Big Pharma is this country has ruled the roost. You can blame the manufacturers and their government protects but blame has to be placed on the insurance system. We are going to come down to 4 or 5 pharmacies nationwide Walgreens, CVS, Sam’s, Walmart and the new and up coming kid on the block Amazon. Unless we get some kind of control of the pharmacies and the go between managers the American consumer is in for a bigger shock. To get back on point the one benefit of this virus if there is any is the world has realized how dependent we had become on China. As much as everyone despises Trump he called it early on.
I completely agree, have thought so ever since our industry fled to China. I can never find a garment to fit me like the standard sizing used to be in the US, for instance. And the drugs we need for health should be made mostly here and with our allies with similar values. Anything requiring our security must be made here, perhaps shared with Canada and Mexico. We have to pay the cost, because we have been pennywise and pound foolish to pay a horrible price in disease and death. AMEN. President Trump has tried his best to go against the tide and make incentives to bring back industry here.
Sandra: You are right on target. I used to be able to buy dress shirts that were exact fits, 16 1/2 neck, 33 sleeve. Now I see shirts sizes as 16-17 neck, 33-34 or 34-35 sleeve. Can’t find half-sizes in pants, either. When I dress up I look like I’m from Kazakhstan.