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Smarmie Doofus

(14,498 posts)
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 05:52 PM Apr 2013

So I'm out shopping w. my son for sneakers the other day.

I'm basically resigned to let him pick-out what he wants... within $$$$ reason. Footwear is serious psychological business for the adolescent male. So I stand off on the periphery. He complains that they don't carry Nikes in this particular big box (No, not Walmart.) dept. store.

I get a brainstorm. If, I tell him, he buys New Balance ( made in USA... or so they claim... and , I THINK, by union labor) I will personally rebate him 10 bucks at purchase.

It works! Not only that but the pair he selects are WAY marked down. ( Not that he cared or noticed; but I did.)

A sense of mild euphoria washes over me, fed by a feeling of righteousness rewarded. ( Now really: how often does that happen?) Followed by a VERY uncharacteristic generosity. Let's go to Taco Bell, I volunteer. (He loves TB; I loathe it. But again: I'm awash.And TB is cheap.)

We merge... or try to merge... onto the main drag to Taco Bell. Traffic's too much; no room in the RT lane so I have to brake. Somewhat abruptly.

Monster Toyota RV ( close to brand new) slams into back of my 9 y.o. Corolla. ( Yeah, a Japanese civil war, so to speak.)

We're all physically ok. ( I think.) His assault vehicle has a bump and a scratch. My back-end is a mess. Let's put it this way: among a number of other components I will need a new DU bumper sticker.

I think we're supposed to call the police, ( We're going to need a police report for the ins. comp; No?) so that's what I do. The police... it turns out... don't provide this "service" in this particular municipality. What the hell, it's Yonkers, NY; "The City of Hills".... a law enforcement friend of mine always adds: "where nothing's on the level." It's got a colorful "political" history. ( Screw it. Look it up. That's why god invented wiki.)

Tomorrow I'm getting an estimate. Someone tell Thomas Friedman that the world is not flat. Weird thing is I'm for the first time really, seriously interested in using economic leverage ( purchasing power) to fight and stem globalization, outsourcing, anti-unionism, etc.) No... there's no logical cause/effect and I did NOT hit my head in the collision. (YES, I'm SURE of it.) But somehow the confluence of odd but relatively mundane events had an impact..... beyond the actual "impact."

Not sure what's going on. Should I have had a CAT scan?

I'm gonna go out tomorrow and look for some outsourced clothes NOT to buy.








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gateley

(62,683 posts)
1. If you're experiencing anything out of the ordinary (ordinary for you, anyway :0)
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 05:56 PM
Apr 2013

DO go see a doctor. Sometimes injuries manifest after the fact, so if something DOES happen, your visit will be documented. Hope you're okay, though.

I love it -- Yonkers, The City of Hills where nothing's on the level.

SoCalNative

(4,613 posts)
2. You know that the owner of New Balance is a right-winger, right?
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 06:02 PM
Apr 2013

New Balance, the shoe company, is headed by Jim Davis who has donated $1,000,000 to Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/07/19/543801/consumer-brands-conservative-attack-ads/

 

Smarmie Doofus

(14,498 posts)
3. Not til now. I thought I was supposed to avoid Nikes like the plague.
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 06:13 PM
Apr 2013

Sweatshops, etc.

Is New Balance unionized, at least?

I really need to post to this forum more often.

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
4. Only some NBs are made in USA -- you need to check the label of every pair you buy. And IIRC
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 06:24 PM
Apr 2013

they aren't union.

Omaha Steve

(99,073 posts)
5. I'm thrilled you tried to buy USA
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 11:06 PM
Apr 2013

http://www.newbalance.com/Domestic-Manufacturing/about_domestic_manufacturing,default,pg.html

We made our first pair of running shoes in 1938 and hold the distinction as the only company that still manufactures athletic shoes in the USA. One out of every four pair of shoes we sell in the U.S. is made or assembled here. Where the domestic value is at least 70% we have labeled them "Made in the USA".


We purchase goods and services from over 38 U.S.-based suppliers who employ more than 5,000 U.S. workers.
Our ability to maintain and grow manufacturing within the U.S. — where costs of production are typically higher than in other parts of the world — rests in part on the innovations of our factory associates along with the skills of their dedicated workers in the art and science of shoe making.



I bought New Balance for several years making sure I got the MADE in USA models. Then I saw them on the DU boycott list because of the owners politics. I got my last shoes at SAS. ALL their shoes are MADE in the USA (San Antonio) http://www.sasshoes.com/


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