21ST CENTURY AMERICA: MADE IN CHINA

By Frosty Wooldridge
January 10, 2011
NewsWithViews.com

In the past week, I took a shopping tour in Denver, Colorado—my residence for the last four decades. Forty years ago, I walked into American stores like Sears, J.C. Penny’s, K-Mart and McDonald’s along with Ford, Chevy and Chrysler dealerships. I ate at Burger King, Dominos, Dairy Queen and Howard Johnson’s.

As a teenager, I wore Converse All-Stars for playing basketball. I pulled on my Wrangler or Levi jeans every day for school. The local shoe store kept my feet protected with American cowhide. Hanes and Fruit of the Loom provided my T-shirts.

As I grew older, I owned a ’57 Chevy, 68 Camaro, 73 Mustang and 79 Ford Pinto (Big mistake on the Pinto!). I bought gas for .24 cents a gallon when I hit 16.

I shopped at Ace Hardware with creaky wood floors. I bought screw drivers, drills and tools for my needs.

After college, I bought a Maytag washer and dryer. Sears and Penny’s carried everything I needed. I bought dining room, kitchen and bedroom furniture for my apartment.

What did everything I purchased carry in common? Answer: “Made in Americaâ€