Cheap has various meanings. It can be defined as low in cost/inexpensive. On the other hand it means of poor quality/inferior.

Everyone loves lower prices, but when we sacrifice product quality for the good of the all mighty dollar, then we have lowered our standards as consumers. We also risk coming face-to-face with the old adage…“you get what you pay for,” meaning don’t be surprised when the inexpensive product you purchased doesn’t live-up to expectations.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have sold out America, so much to the point where once-proud USA manufacturers have either closed their doors or outsourced those jobs to foreign countries. The products that return to our shores from those overseas markets lack quality.

What’s worse, some have resulted in major medical problems or carried the threat of illness to American consumers. Additionally, some foreign countries lack or do not enforce tough environmental standards on manufacturers.

All this amounts to a lose-lose situation for the USA. Our once strong manufacturing workforce has lost 4.2 million jobs over the past 10 years. Many of those jobs now lie in the hands of foreigners. They, in-turn, ship us inferior products once made with pride and quality by American hands.

This trend must stop before the American manufacturing landscape becomes a vast wasteland.

We encourage all local residents to attend a Town Hall meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the Chowan University Helms Center. Hosted by Nucor Steel, citizens will be able to learn more and voice their concerns about the ever-increasing dangers caused by unfair trade practices.

The time to take action is now!