Chinese harp labor

[Damien Masterson <damienzm@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

   I wouldn't dwell on it too much, because it's a losing battle. Aside from
being a musician, I have an import - export business and have spent a lot of
time in China, I've been to some factories. Most people make about $1 for
one day, a few make up to $300 a month, roughly $10 a day. Our entire
American existence is being subsidized by these people's substandard
conditions and lack of political freedom, from Tupperware to paper goods to
HARMONICAS. That's how we can still afford to go shopping even though our
wages have stayed the same for 20 years. So just try and put it out of your
mind and practice.
  If it really bothers you that some 16 year old girl is putting together
your harmonicas for the equivalent of some local kid's allowance, you can
always buy European, or Brazilian (not much better..), or so on. Buy
American! If you can afford it, many customizers are out there making about
as much as the Chinese to bring us one of a kind comb designs, etc...
   As far as the Japanese powerhouse, they have had ZERO population growth
since WWII, and I'm not sure many of us could hang with that culture for too
long. But they make some good harmonicas, too... Aren't Lee Oskars a subsidy
of Tombo from Japan, or have they outsourced everything to cheap Chinese and
Korean labor like everyone else? What's really funny is that all of this
NAFTA stuff happened under a Democrat who played sax (made in France) and
also played the whoremonica...

  Sorry, I couldn't resist!!!!!

 Damien "commie trash harmonicist" Masterson
   



On 3/4/03 9:23 AM, "harp-l-digest" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 07:23:39 -0800 (PST)
> From: Michael Carreira <michaelcarreira@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: hohner factory china
> 
> Has anyone ever been to a hohner factory? Just
> wondering what the conditions are like there.
> Sometimes the old "made in china" makes the music a
> little sadder when I get to thinking about the typical
> pay and conditions of factories there.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Mike C