Oops: Keychains Touting Missouri Jobs Initiative Actually ‘Made in China’
- Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:17pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Those keychain-flashlight knickknacks to promote Missouri’s new “Made in Missouri” jobs package? They were made in China. But officials are hoping state fair-goers won‘t know that when they’re handed out next week.
Officials peeled "Made in China" stickers off these keychains promoting Missouri's new jobs initiative. (St. Louis Today)
According to St. Louis Today, officials in the state’s economic development department noticed the 6,000 “carabiners” – keychain-flashlight-pen trinkets — all bore the “jobs.mo.gov” insignia on one side, but also featured a “Made in China” sticker on the reverse. After much conferring around the department, an email finally went out: “Volunteers” were invited to “assist with removing stickers from the State Fair promo item.”
St. Louis Today reported:
On the morning of Aug. 1, the senior staff gathered as requested in the conference room of the agency director.
There, over doughnuts, a cadre of state officials proceeded to methodically erase all traces of China from 6,000 carabiners.
Operation label lift occurred as Gov. Jay Nixon has been criss-crossing the state promoting the “Made in Missouri” jobs campaign and the Legislature is preparing for a special session over whether state tax credits should be used to lure a Chinese air freight hub here.
The agency issued a statement defending both the carabiners and the decision to take off the stickers:
“The Division of Workforce Development went through the state procurement process to purchase these items from a Missouri-based business. Clearly, the division’s preference would have been for the Missouri-based retailer to have purchased their supplies from a domestic supplier….The division prepared the items for the State Fair, which included removing plastic baggies and any stickers from the items.”
A spokesman for the governor declined to comment to the newspaper.
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Comments (143)
Rammer1066
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:55pmI’m sorry, I‘m from Missouri and I really don’t like the logo either. Did anyone notice it looks like a person behind another person with their arm on top of their head dunking them under water?
Report Post »SoDakUSA
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:08pmHAHAHA…didn’t see it until you said it! Doesn’t look right…it’s almost like the Fed-Ex arrow (in between the e & x)…can never look at it the same again!
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:16pmMissouri has CLAIRE to blame for this
Report Post »Did she ever get rid of that expensive plane?
American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:36pmActually, looking at the logo, it looks like a drunk who is puking into a toilet. I‘m just sayin’.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:22pmRAMMER,
Report Post »Nice second sight !
Ibought a nice solid oak bookshelf from Oak & More’s mnice shelf got it home before I saw the made in china. Kinda lost some of it’s appeal ! and lots of products of american & english Co’s made in china are now being marked……..Made in P.R.C……….LIKE THATS SAPPOSEDTO FOOL US !
crnman38
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:59pmthis is precisely our economic problems…to many things are made in china and not in America…we need to be making and selling things, instead of buying everything from overseas…
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:00pm@American Soldier (Separated)
Report Post »I agree with you on what it looks like!
Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:14pm@American Soldier (Separated)
Report Post »Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:36pm
Actually, looking at the logo, it looks like a drunk who is puking into a toilet. I‘m just sayin’.
***
Pretty good expose on Missouri politics, isn’t it?
xoke
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:17pmOMG, thats funny. Forget the Show-Me State, y’all can be the Water Board-Me State!
Report Post »jcannon98188
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 5:16pmI think the logo kinda looks like a fart :D
Report Post »AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 6:19pmHey…you’re right!
Report Post »olderjarhead
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:55pmThis is clearly George Bush’s fault!
Report Post »discardofevil
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:02pmLol
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:52amGeorge W. Bush should have known better than to order thousands of keychains with a double message of, jobs.mo.gov and Made in China. I guess he got a “deal” for buying them three years in advance. Ha You know, itwould be simplier if things were maked “Not made in China” since about 99% of everything sold in the USA is made in China.
Obama is too smart for that. Yea, right. He would like for us to believe he‘s really smart when in reality he’s just an average liberal dumnass. Like the comedian Steve Bridges says in one of his Obama impersonations, ” American manufacturing is up. You know those little stickers or tags that say “Made in China” ? Well we make those. lol dumbass. –
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:53pmThose great politicans and union leaders have for years been telling their brain dead members to buy american while they theso called leaders are partying down on imported booz of all kinds. Here is a toast to buying american BURP
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:42pmcheck out union members and officials clothing and articles and what they drive. I’d like to hear reporters ask members at these union rallys where the tags on their clothing says they were made…
Report Post »voicecheck1
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:53pmWere these keychains tested for lead ?^
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:14pmThe Democrats ok’d them so they probably do have high amounts of lead in them.
Report Post »captaingrumpy
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:01pmmy gift to Democrats has high amount of lead in it
Report Post »TheSitRep
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:51pmI have a promotional products business http://www.dirtcheapcaps.com and sell U.S.A (union made) caps they are so fn expensive 5 x what Chinese caps are. Get this union shops are not supposed to buy Chinese made stuff but they do all the time.
But then they also hire non-union workers to stand out and picket places. LOL fn goons.
Report Post »RA0725
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:48pmRemoving those stickers is bound to violate a federal regulation. Lawyers will cruise the fairgrounds looking for a caribeener pinched finger.
Report Post »ConstitutionalPatriot
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:40pmDarn, Dang… Those Union workers must be p*ssed!
Report Post »Unbelievable
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:40pmThe US company must have been Conservative and the democratic Missouri govenment decided they didn’t like their political views in their state so then went to a China company. You know kind of like Mayberry not wanting jobs because of their political views…
Report Post »Fat Albert
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:39pmIf we want jobs in this country we must be willing to quit buying the products that come from outside of the USA, it will cost us more out of our pocket on the front end but it will put something in our pockets to spend later.
Report Post »If you keep going to Wal Mart, Kmart, Sears, Target etc, and buying the imported junk from them we will continue loosing what jobs we have left and none will be coming back at least for a wage we can live on.
Bobmouse55
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:19pmYou mean we still manufacture anything? I can‘t find it and I’ve looked.
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:41pmSo while our incomes remain fixed, our taxes are going up, inflation coming to a town near you, you’re advocating that we start buying the exact same products but at x4 the costs just to stay american?
Before that can happen, the cost of product needs to go down. Workers need to suck it up and work for less, plain and simple. That’s the only way to bring manufacturing back to America. Once workers are willing to get paid less, products cost less, over all pricing in our economy will go down and the lower wages that the workers are getting won’t look so low anymore.
Everytime we have a wage increase, the cost just translates into the products they produce. Which mean they need more money to buy the things they need. Then they have to have another wage increase. The only solution the free market has found for this is to buy from China, even with freight costs, middlemen markups, taxes and time involved, it’s still cheaper to do this!
Report Post »cj234
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:42pmYeah right! That’s why one of the most liberal city in our nation, full of unions, had China to built San Francisco a bridge!!!
Report Post »SingerGuy
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:28pmThe unions have totally ruined “American made.” No one can afford to manufacture anything of quality with the union overhead.
The pendulum used to be too far to the bosses (and their abuses). The unions came along and tried to pull the pendulum to the center so things were balanced. Now it’s all the way over into the union side and we have more abuses by union leaders (thugs) than we ever did from big business.
Given human nature it may be virtually impossible to keep the pendulum in the middle with a careful balance between the needs of business and the needs of the worker.
Report Post »MadeintheUSA2
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:25pmLove ‘em or hate ’em–I am sure Walmart is the largest retail store that sells items made in the USA. That being said–it is mainly chemicals, plastic bags, some food, & paper goods. Start taking time to read labels & you can make an impact to support USA jobs without going broke–even if it is small items like I just mentioned. There are other USA made items sold there–you just have to look.
As far as clothing goes…you gotta go to All American Clothing co. Fabulous jeans–better than any out there! I have bought several items from them over the last year & love everything they sell.
Country singer Trace Atkins online “store” sells made in USA. I seen him on TV the other night talking about it. He takes a financial hit but he is at least principled about the issue.
If an item does not say Made in USA (I keep looking) & I always assume it is made in China & move on if I can. If a company such as Johnson & Johnson does not care to label their products “Made in USA” but can spend millions upon millions ensuring every item sold is written in Spanish, as well as English, then screw them! There are too many products to choose from that are USA made & ARE labeled as such.
US labeling laws are a confusing joke & should be simplified so WE the consumer can know for sure where everything is made–including ingredients in our food. Think of this–everything we use that is made in China–we eat it, wear it, touch it etc. Why wouldn’t they taint everything & poison us
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:25pm@Fat Albert
Report Post »Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:39pm
If we want jobs in this country we must be willing to quit buying the products that come from outside of the USA, it will cost us more out of our pocket on the front end but it will put something in our pockets to spend later
***
Try this one instead, “If we want jobs in America, demand Congress repeal all the costly regulations which do little but make it more expensive or difficult to produce things competitively in America!” corporate CEO’s would gladly bring back jobs to America, so they can spend their time here instead of flying all over the world, if they didn’t have to pay numerous people just to do all the paperwork these regulations require, and could competitively make their products here at home.
Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:36pm@American soldier (separated)
Report Post »re : Before that can happen, the cost of product needs to go down. Workers need to suck it up and work for less, plain and simple. That’s the only way to bring manufacturing back to America. Once workers are willing to get paid less, products cost less, over all pricing in our economy will go down and the lower wages that the workers are getting won’t look so low anymore
***
That‘s the clearest explaination I’ve heard for quite a while. I often say that the minimum wage going up is kind of like climbing a ladder by sinking it into the ground to get closer to the top. It’ll get you there without much labor (if the ground’s soft enough for it to sink easily) but when you get to the top, what you wanted to reach is still the same distance above you. Politician’s answer, pull the ladder up, put it up to what you want to reach, then start sinking it all over again.
Kind of the opposite of what Walt Disney was known for, “When he got to the top, he’d pull the ladder up on a cloud, and start climbing all over again, ad infinitum.”
mattmo79
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:37pmI think most people would be surprises how much state and local governments spend for products produced outside the US. Government entities are awarding foriegn companies contracts over US owned businesses. It’s absolutely disgracful that our tax dollars are being used to support foriegn businesses when there are great businesses here in he US that can provide products.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:37pm“Volunteers” were invited to “assist with removing stickers from the State Fair promo item.”
Disgusting lying hypocrites!
Report Post »saranda
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:41pmNot surprised they just removed the sticker. Hypocrisy lives. Same thing happened during the 1980′s. An entire program was built around “buy American” and was found that much of the stickers and such were made in China.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:41pmWTF and they wonder why Americans are working…..The effing Government is buying the jobs promotional merchandice that was made in china…….It would be crap your pants funny if it wasn’t soooo sad
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:42pmshovel ready jobs, they will probably count towards stimulus…
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:04pmToo late now, the word is out!
Report Post »Is this how they “fix” ballots while they are counting them, too?
Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:43pm@andy
Report Post »Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:37pm
“Volunteers” were invited to “assist with removing stickers from the State Fair promo item.”
***
Makes you wonder if the “volunteers” were government ‘union’ workers, doesn’t it?
tbconrad
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:36pmThe damn Racist Teaparty probably diverted the order overseas.
Report Post »DragonflyJune
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:36pmwhat is made here in America anymore? Seriously, I want to know. I can’t seem to find anything unless it is arts or crafts or quilts or something.
Report Post »HMNSC
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:48pmSmith & Wesson, Ruger, Springfield.
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:54pmYour on it HMNSC…
Report Post »Bobmouse55
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:24pmThere is a website that directs you to “Made in America” products, but the selection is pathetically limited.
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:14pmAmerican Idol, Reality TV…you know…things you can sink your teeth into….LMAO
Report Post »MadeintheUSA2
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:29pmLOTS of chemicals, plastics, paper goods. Ever read the packaging of some toilet paper ? Some are labeled Made in USA with foreign and domestic materials. WTF is that all about. Wiping my ars with foreign materials–Lord help us if we can even make our own toilet paper!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:48pm@ragonflyJune
Report Post »Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:36pm
what is made here in America anymore? Seriously, I want to know. I can’t seem to find anything unless it is arts or crafts or quilts or something.
***
At least the first lady and kids were!
BOMUSTGO
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:36pmOur President wasn’t made in the USA!
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:27pmThat was clever!
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:35pm“Erase all traces of China from 6,000 carabiners” Doing the jobs Americans won’t do.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:34pmFigures. Just another Governmental Gotcha moment. DIP WADS!
Report Post »Escapee1
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:32pmSo they‘re going to hand these out under the premise that they’re promoting “Missouri Jobs / “Made In the USA” … America, this is the biggest PROBLEM that we have, NO ONE wants to stand up and say NOOOO to imports, even while it’s costing us THOUSANDS of jobs! WE THE PEOPLE have got to turn out in 2012 to vote and to STOP THE MADNESS!
Report Post »Bobmouse55
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 3:23pmNO. America is not the problem. POLITICIANS are the problem.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:57pm@Escapee1
Report Post »Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:32pm
So they‘re going to hand these out under the premise that they’re promoting “Missouri Jobs / “Made In the USA” … America, this is the biggest PROBLEM that we have, NO ONE wants to stand up and say NOOOO to imports, even while it’s costing us THOUSANDS of jobs! WE THE PEOPLE have got to turn out in 2012 to vote and to STOP THE MADNESS!
***
We’ve got to get the “Premise” right first; it’s not “say no to imports”, it’s “Say yes to domestic production! Remove half the reguations on business & developement, cut corporate taxes, so they don’t have to hire tax accountants full time to look for loopholes, DO AWAY WITH OBAMACARE!!!
And watch businesses re-open in America . (Hopefully, they won’t have to bribe our politicians to get permits, and licenses, like many foreign governments!)
Freebird
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:32pmIt‘s clearly Bush’s fault.
Report Post »Vowel_Movement
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 7:11pmNot only Bush‘s fault but don’t forget all our problems stem from the Tsunami in Japan, the Arab Spring, the tornado’s in the midwest and South east. the drought, The rain and floods, Katrina, Katerina, YoyoLanda, Humpty Dumpty when he fell off a wall, The cancellation of Cheers and the death of George Soros.
What? George Soros didn’t die yet? Darn, can’t blame George now much as I know he is responsible for some of this bad stuff..
Report Post »slvrserfr
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:31pmThis is as sad and shamelessly embarrassing as when it was found that many of America’s flags were made in China.
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:57pmFunny you should mention that…I bought an American flag (made in china) with all the instructions to mount it in spanish…no joke
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:29pm“Our shipment of FAIL has arrived from China, sir.”
Report Post »corchem
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:27pmJust another reason to vote for our Marxist president.
Here are more reasons to vote for this disaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuiNei0il5U&feature=channel_video_title
Report Post »PureDrumFury
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:27pmWow. That’s completely asinine.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:25pmShow me China. (I mean state)
Report Post »Weiners Wiener
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:25pmHilarious and sad all at the same time. Voted for O’Bummer? You’re a sucker AND a douche.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 2:20pmHope and change you can believe in!
Report Post »discardofevil
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:04pmLol
Report Post »The destroyer
RejectFalseIcons
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 2:50pmWho is John Galt?
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