Just about the only thing still made in the US is flags

I just read an article about iPod factories in China. Basically 200,000 workers (all women) work 15 hour days for $50/month. Although using Chinese facilities isn't anything new, it just shows that Apple is yet another company to outsource domestic workers for cheap labor overseas in order to sell a product at a reduced price.

Which reminds me of my wardrobe shopping spree of recent. When I moved to Mass, I realized that none of my clothes work without a suit or sports jacket, and the job I have isn't the type to require suck high-class attire. So I went shopping. Finding a decent dress shirt that fits me is such arduous task that you may be surprised how much I would spend for one. When I disovered that Banana Republic's online store sells dress shirts in the tall-medium size, I almost cried. They fit perfectly, and despite their price (even on sale) I picked up a couple.

Then I saw the tags: Made in China.

This didn't surprise me. Not really. But I was still disappointed by it. Particularly because of how much retailers charge for these items, pocketing huge profits for the image that they portray. Companies like Express, Gap, & Banana Republic do this so efficiently it scares me (actually, these are all the same company; this self-competition perpetuates the idea of bargain shopping by instilling into the buyer an artificial sense of reward when a "sale" is found). The commonality between companies like Banana Republic, Wal-Mart, and even Apple is astounding.

But should I really feel guilty about supporting these companies? It seems as though most US consumer products are made overseas. In fact, I would be hard-pressed to find a comparable product (such as a dress shirt that fits so well I almost cried) that is of domestic origin.

It kinda reminds me of shopping for organic produce in grocery stores. No f***ing way am I spending $3/lb. for zucchini. Not when I have a choice to pay half as much for squash that's nearly as good. Sure, I would like to support organic farming, but I'll do so at my local farmer's market if what I'm looking for is in season. I do realize that food isn't a novelty item; I have many more options than I do something like a portable media player or clothing. The outsourcing of food suppliers is different, but still redolent of consumer products.

And after all this I still haven't drawn any concrete conclusions about the system. I drool at the thought of a new iPod (mine's been flaking out on me), but is it really worth it? Part of this issue comes from the fact that I do actually have a job now and am making a decent bit of money, so things I normally wouldn't be able to afford are now within reach.