Politicians Upset Because US Olympic Team Outfits Were Manufactured In China

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Written By:
Rob Port

Jul 12, 2012
3:33pm

American fashion giant Ralph Lauren was given the task of designing America’s new outfits for the Olympics. The design of the outfits themselves aren’t pleasing some because they apparently don’t look patriotic enough. But beyond that, Congressional leadership is upset because the duds aren’t made in America.

Reid, D-Nev., made the remarks following reports that China has already taken gold from America by manufacturing the uniforms Team USA will wear during the opening ceremonies.

“I think the Olympic Committee should be ashamed,” Reid told reporters on Capitol Hill. He said they should “burn” the current uniforms, and would rather America’s athletes wear shirts with “USA” hand-painted on them. …

“And they should be wearing uniforms made in America,” Pelosi said.

Boehner, meanwhile, said: “You’d think they’d know better.” …

The company, in a statement, said the outfits aim to embody “the spirit of American athleticism and sportsmanship.”

It’s worth noting that America’s economy has evolved, for the most part, beyond textile manufacturing. Roughly 98% of the clothing worn in America is made in another country.

Now, I now it’s fashionable to believe that it’s unpatriotic to buy things not made in America, but in reality I’m not sure there’s anything more patriotic than free trade. America is a nation founded on international trade. That sort of trade is what made this country prosperous, and to the extent that we’ve tried to limit it in the past, our nation has suffered.

I don’t think there’s anything more American than free trade and free markets. We wear uniforms made in China because we are a nation that allows citizens the freedom to seek out the best deal wherever it may be found. Or that’s what we should be anyway, protectionist trade policies aside.