What remains so scary for me is the raw materials China supplies vital industries. Take the pharmaceutical industry as an example. Over fifty per cent of all drug ingredients now originate from China. Here we are in America, paying exorbitant prices for drugs, up ten times more than Canadians when costs are declining because the source of supply has changed to China and we are literally now guinea pigs testing to see if the latest batch in our medicine cabinet matches the previous one. I have always said my trust for Chinese-made crap extends no further than a pair of cheap sox or underpants and for me even when it comes to those items I would rather spend a day shopping around until I found a label that did not read “Made in China”.

The timing is perfect for Americans to reject what greedy entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 corporations have been doing selling us inferior “Made in China” junk by demanding only “Made in America”. If Goodyear wants to continue building plants in China while closing them down in America, then we should tell them to transfer head office there as well and become a Chinese company. Truthfully when it comes to tires, I am now only happy with European Pirelli, Continental and Michelin brands. The Japanese own Firestone, I haven’t heard of B.F. Goodrich for years and Goodyear owns Dunlop so it makes my decision easy. With that said I have shot myself in the foot a little. But it strengthens my argument that American companies truly dilute their quality when they hire Chinese coolies as factory workers to make their shit. I wouldn’t wear a Polo Shirt even if Ralph Lauren gave it to me, but I would wear a Giorgio Amani because it is “Made in Italy”! There are times I must unfortunately accept a substitute for my “Made in America” rule, but “hell no” when it comes to China!

Because Tiger sold an off course image like he sunk all those birdies and eagles on course, the guy became the globe’s highest paid sportsman through endorsements. In fact Tiger is the first billionaire sportsman. Thanks to his personal life imploding, business analysts are now claiming that leading sports brands could cut their costly multi-million dollar endorsements for sporting celebrities. Tiger-gate will herald a trend where a common sense approach will take place as to what levels of expenditure are actually required to lure an athlete, now that most of them, including Tiger, can hardly be held as role models.

Name commercial brands such as Gillette and Accenture (the two who so far have dumped Tiger) that have used sport/athletes for their advertising focus will also look at other ways to promote their image as there is no question they have been let down in a huge way over the years by thugs and idiots claiming to be sportsmen. Sporting team owners will also learn that they are paying their stars far too much money than their true worth. It simply amazes me how families can afford to take go to a ball game these days. In my opinion no average working man, unless he is also dealing in illicit activities can contemplate the luxury of buying the tickets on a regular basis to watch his favorite team and feed the family at the game.

Let’s hope the exposure of Tiger heralds a new approach, where we don’t place undeserving people on a pedestal. Advertisers, sports team owners and promoters need to look inwards and see what they have created here. Now Tiger has joined the rest of them, it is hard for me to name a dozen sporting celebrities I think deserve every cent they earn, because at the end of the day few have given anything back. As far as role models, the media should turn their attention people like the Mayor of Newark, Corey Booker, who quietly has done an unbelievable job using his talents and good heartedness at making a huge contribution to the community around him. You don’t see him earning $millions in endorsements promoting a Gillette razor blade! Let’s now put fools like Tiger Woods on the backburner and focus on those who unselfishly dedicate their lives for great causes.

This practice of screwing the customer and simultaneously screwing the supplier, when the average man today doesn’t even get the chance to surface for a quick breath of air really illustrates how mean spirited and miserable Wall Street and their coterie of fans, namely the big multi-nationals are. I could imagine all hell would break loose if Proctor and Gamble told Goldman Sachs they were going to delay settling of $500 million stock buyback by ninety days! Even though large corporations have not been affected by the credit squeeze as smaller businesses, because banks continue to bend over backwards to look after them, the smart-ass boys in the finance departments of the likes of a G.E. have discovered the use of OPM (other people’s money) actually adds $billions to their coffers.

On the other hand the surveys show companies with $500 million revenue or less are understanding and working with those customers who need that little more time to settle, at the same time they, themselves, are valiantly striving to pay their bills within terms. Before the recession these companies paid vendors in an average 42.9 days. Today this has been reduced to 40.1 days. Large corporations are now paying their creditors in average 55.8 days instead of 53.2 in the good old times.

President Obama, just like his predecessor claims small/medium sized businesses are the back bone of America. How about proving it by showing us the color of your money! If there is ever a case of an upside down world is how multi-nationals are so favorably treated when so few even pay any taxes and how discriminated against the little bloke and his business are, when not only do they set out to do the right thing; they actually do it!