how we can bring some jobs back to america

A NEW SOLICITATION FROM A MILITARY UNIT

HIKING SHOES

Salomon Quest 4DGTX Forces Model 373478

Protective rubber toe cap

Non-reflective materials

High-cut profile for increased ankle support, stability and protection

Lightweight, abrasion-resistant textile allows for durability, breathability and comfort

Anti-debris mesh upper prevents debris from entering the boots

Nubuck leather overlays provide structure, support and flexibility

Seam-sealed GORE-TEX membranes offer excellent protection from water yet allow moisture vapor to escape, keeping feet from overheating

GORE-TEX Performance Comfort offers optimized climate comfort for moderate weather conditions and a wide range of outdoor activities.

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE IN CHINA!!!!

This solicitation is why the footwear industry will not walk away from using the material bogusly referred to as described in the solicitation. Someone in the unit probably logged into the internet and searched hiking boots and this is the one they chose. On the web sites you find these boots to include the Salomon web site there is no country of origin stated but when you look in the boot there is a sewn in label that says “made in China”. To the best of my knowledge our military and probably the whole of government agencies are restricted to the “BUY AMERICA ACT” and this product is not in that category. Every time one of the GSA contract holders contacts me about sleeping bags they request a letter that states my products are not only Berry Amendment compliant but also meet the “BUY AMERICA ACT” meaning that the product is not only made in America but is also made of components made in AMERICA. The components cannot be sourced in AMERICA since American companies buy materials from Asia but the material must also be MADE IN AMERICA. The boot requested in this solicitation does not meet that criteria; PERIOD! I sent an e-mail with the link to the article written by Andrew Skurka about his experience with a similar La Sportiva boot. Unfortunately there was no name for point of contact so who ever receives the e-mail may very well discard even though I included the fact that they are made in China.

When the men who are issued these hiking boots discover that they are not as comfortable as the solicitation suggests they will be they will have no option to return them. They will ultimately experience what Andrew Skurka experienced.

When the men are now issued boots that have Gore-Tex in them they develop foot ailments. You may recall that the “boot dryer” product I make is as a direct result of a five year study by the U.S. Marine Corps whose Marines were experiencing everything Andrew did and in some cases trench foot. The problem as I see it with respect to the military is the very fact that they do not necessarily face up to the cause of the problem and when it comes to feet it is the retention of moisture within the footwear regardless of what is said about the materials used to make them.

Another problem is odor; years ago I bought a pair of Rocky shoes that had a very thick sole which appealed to me since I was working on a concrete floor. The first day I took them off the order was very unpleasant so I bought “odor eaters” that took care of the problem. But I never wore out the shoes because of the moisture retention, I just threw them away. The company that makes odor eaters has a debt of gratitude to Gore. Add to that the companies that make over the counter medical products to heal foot sores like athletes foot.

In my last commentary I explained fraud. Who is having the fraud perpetrated against them when a government agency makes a purchase of a product that simply does not work; the government? Not really; you and I the tax payers. After all we are a “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. So it is us who actually suffer being the recipients of the fraud.

When a soldier wearing a pair of these boots develops foot problems the soldier must be given medical care, and who pays that fee, we do the taxpayers. If the damage is so significant that the soldier must be discharged, with a pension, for the rest of his/her life who pays that fee, we do, because we are the tax payers. What should we do about the situation, easy sue the perpetrators of the fraud action. Do we know how many individual soldiers have had the need for medical care for foot problems as a direct result of wet feet? I must believe it is so significant for the Marine Corp to spend whatever on research and development of a boot dryer product. It does not really work very well.

Our government could easily ask the “waterproof breathable” suppliers for absolute proof of their claim, then ask the boot makers not those who have been making boots based upon a specification presented to them but companies that offer their boots to the government from the aftermarket. The amount of money recovered from direct purchases plus fines might payoff the national debt.

Any attorney’s out there that want to present the case since the government is “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Or possibly a class action law suit!

Now once we accomplish ending the use of these bogus materials what do we do, easy there is already a boot that performs to allow moisture out and that is a Lamilite lined top grain cowhide boot. I have been selling them for 15 years and the history of performance is there for everyone to see. And they are made in the USA using components made in the USA. The current boot is by far the best because it has a Vibram sole that can be replaced.

Another significant benefit will be in the area of employment. By using 100 percent leather from domestically raised cattle that will help the cattle ranchers and lower the cost of meat. Who knows how many jobs the industry will need? Lots I am sure. Then there will be the need for more boot factories and there are several non-operating in the New England area that I know of and I am sure there are other factories in other parts of the country that are not functioning at this time. The soles in my opinion should NOT be molded but Vibram so they can be replaced when worn out if the upper is good. The next benefit would be the consumer market. I cannot tell you how often I am told that a customer is delighted to support an American company who makes the product in America. They the American consumers would support any and all American manufacturers! Then there is the worldwide market for American made products, it is huge. People in almost every country of the world want American made product even people in China!

Politicians give lip service to wanting to bring jobs back to America, well now if enough citizens bring this to the attention of their local congressman and senator maybe they will listen and act.

Problem solved!