On my honor I will try to serve God and my country…
So imagine the brouhaha when the Girl Scouts of America put up their uniform contract for bid and two of the potential bidders were Overseas companies.
Imagine the concerns that farming out the work to a place like China could result in Girl Scout uniforms being made by child labor in poor working conditions. Girls who, by our standards, probably ought to be in a scouting program, not exploited in abysmal working conditions in a sweatshop.
Imagine the phone calls, emails and letters the Girl Scouts must have received.
Happy Ending?
Girl Scouts spokeswoman Michelle Tompkins said the organization, which has its national headquarters in New York City, had been contacted by parents, members and volunteers urging it to keep the uniforms American-made. She said the contract hadn’t been awarded but the bid request had been modified to require that the uniforms be made domestically and that companies adhere to strict guidelines regarding worker age, treatment and safety. This was reported here.
Girl Scouts of America Spokesperson Michelle Tompkins had this to say: “We thank the many Girl Scout parents and volunteers who stood up for their beliefs and showed our 2.4 million girls that every voice makes a difference. They are the role models who help build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.”
Every voice makes a difference. Every choice has a consequence. When you buy, how do you choose?
Economic patriotism is official policy in China (indigenous innovation is what they call it) and many other places.
Is economic patriotism part of your thinking?