Alabama Takes a Hit Below the Belt - US to Buy Chinese Condomns

Being from Alabama, I could not resist posting this article. Moreover, if ever there were any doubts about how hard-hitting and far-reaching the economic downturn is in the country, as well as, the impact of the new global economy, this story captures it perfectly.

For a roughly 3 cents saving per condemn and because Congress removed "Buy America" language from the recently passed stimulus bill, USAID is taking its business to China!

As a result, 300 individuals in tiny Eufaula, AL are SOL after decades of service.

WOW


Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs
Reported on McClatchy (3/23/09)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/64577.html
By Mike McGraw of the Kansas City Star (3/22/09)
http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1100966.html

Call it a condom conundrum.

At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?

In this case, Chinese condoms.

In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.

That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.

But not anymore.

The switch comes despite assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible.

"Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill.