Just condoms? Is that what Pam is bitching about today? No, it is what those condoms represent. 300 jobs in Alabama, is what this cost savings represents. The “buy American” clause is what this cost savings represents. It Is how the Federal Government went about dumping the company:
“Of course, we considered how many U.S. jobs would be affected by this move,” said a USAID official who spoke on the condition that he would not be named. But he said the reasons for the change included lower prices (2 cents versus more than 5 cents for U.S.-made condoms) and the fact that Congress dropped “buy American language” in a recent appropriations bill…..
…..
Alatech formally protested the federal contract going to its foreign competitors. But on March 9, the Government Accountability Office rejected the complaint, noting that it lacked jurisdiction in the case.
Instead of dealing directly with condom makers, as it had done in the past, the government hired a Massachusetts company to act as a middleman. That in turn protected the government from a successful bid protest, because USAID was no longer the “prime contractor.”
Larry Povlacs, Alatech’s president, says he thinks that was a deliberate move by USAID to follow through with what he says it wanted to do all along — cut Alatech out of the bidding. USAID officials deny that, saying the middleman was hired for other reasons.
We have given the domestic aut industry billions with no hope of them making a recovery on their own, yet we take a viable company like Alatech and put it out of business.
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2 cents or 5 cents?? That’s all they cost to make? Then I’ve been royally “shafted” over the years. :d What an insane markup in retail.
Nice pun!
Actually, that price comparison is a bit off. The 2 cents is for thinner material with a high probability of breakage. The 5 cents is for thicker material with a lower probability of breakage.
Now I’ve heard everything!!! Chinese condoms? What if:
1. They don’t fit?
2. They have QC issues?
3. They have toxic ingredients, such as lead?
lmao…but this is really absurd. Another one piled on top of everything outrageously absurd happening on this administration’s watch. Bush is starting to look very good by comparison…argggh! As a Conservative, never thought I would have to say that!