Communist Party Hats

Communist Party Hats?

You'd think that you could depend on the U.S. government to buy American. Especially for something as sensitive as a condom. It seems that 300 local condom manufacturers got the short end of the new stimulus. These superior workers are losing their jobs in favor of cheaper Chinese labor. Alatech, which supplies the condoms to USAID, for distribution, will be essentially laid off.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), works in conjunction with The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Under this plan (which George W. Bush created), condoms are distributed nationally for AIDS prevention. USAID has decided to buy Chinese condoms which sell for about 2 cents as opposed to a more extravagant 5 cents for American made.

“The U.S. government, the world's largest donor of condoms, has bought more than nine billion condoms over the past two decades. Under President George W. Bush's global AIDS plan, which dedicates billions of dollars to fight the epidemic...the U.S. government's distribution of condoms has risen, to over 400 million a year.” http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1392/36/


Alatech has been supplying condoms for USAID for 30 years. The decision to replace the American workers has been in the works for several years. The result of a process that occurred long before Obama took office. Unfortunately, we're becoming more and more accustomed to outsourcing, under government and corporate auspices. An article in the Kansas City Star tells us, “'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.”

I had an opportunity to speak with Lawrence Povlacs, the President of Alatech. He said that they were finishing their last 4 year contract with USAID right now. He sounded very beat, very betrayed by his government. He told me that this was a cost issue. They can get Chinese-made condoms for about 10% of his company's price.

He dejectedly told me how he had to tell his workers the news, some who have been doing this for 30 years. “How am I supposed to break the news to them?”

McClatchy News tells us, “At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?”

A big red flag, [no pun intended] appears in my mind when I think about the U.S. allowing China to, in essence, have a major influence on our reproductive future. Trading locally produced condoms for cheaper foreign ones might not be the best idea. This is most definitely not something that we should scrimp on. Condoms are one of the most popular and commonly used forms of contraception in the world. Failure rate can be, and often is, disastrous.

“USAID officials maintain that tests have shown that Chinese condoms hold up well against those made in the U.S. and elsewhere. Some condom experts disagree.

Bill Howe, president of PolyTech Synergies in Ohio, a consultant to the condom industry, said China is 'learning' to produce better condoms, but their products are still 'notoriously suspect.'” http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1100966-p2.html

“Notoriously suspect?!”

Why in the world would we adopt the birth control habits of the most overpopulated country in the world anyway? China would certainly be last on my list as the poster child for any sort of contraception? In fact, Chinese-made condoms are so bad that the manufacturers must resort to putting David Beckam's picture on their condoms, in order to sell any.

The Chinese have many complaints about their condoms. Among them, “too thick,” “too thin,” “low quality,” and “uncomfortable.” There have also been numerous complaints about unreadable expiration dates, says DNA World.

“So we're going to trust birth control, we're going to trust AIDS to the ChiComs? They can't even make pet food, they can't even make kids' toys, and we're going to shut down 300 condom jobs start buying condoms from China?” asks an incredulous Rush Limbaugh.

According to, IRINews, 69 of 117 [Chinese] youths who were interviewed approved of condom sales in Chinese shops, with 31 against the idea.
One-third of those who opposed the idea listed as their reason the “bad quality of Chinese products.” 


www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82970
The average Chinese failure rate for condoms is 21%. Compare this to American's 12%. Is this really worth the gamble?

Alatech has been supplying condoms for USAID for 30 years. The decision to replace the American workers has been in the works for several years. The result of a process that occurred long before Obama took office. Unfortunately, we're becoming more and more accustomed to outsourcing, under government and corporate auspices. An article in the Kansas City Star tells us, “'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.”

I had an opportunity to speak with Lawrence Povlacs, the President of Alatech. He said that they were finishing their last 4 year contract with USAID right now. He sounded very beat, very betrayed by his government. He told me that this was a cost issue. They can get Chinese-made condoms for about 10% of his company's price.

He dejectedly told me how he had to tell his workers the news, some who have been doing this for 30 years. “How am I supposed to break the news to them?”

McClatchy News tells us, “At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?”

 A big red flag, [no pun intended] appears in my mind when I think about the U.S. allowing China to, in essence, have a major influence on our reproductive future. Trading locally produced condoms for cheaper foreign ones might not be the best idea. This is most definitely not something that we should scrimp on. Condoms are one of the most popular and commonly used forms of contraception in the world. Failure rate can be, and often is, disastrous.

“USAID officials maintain that tests have shown that Chinese condoms hold up well against those made in the U.S. and elsewhere. Some condom experts disagree.
Bill Howe, president of PolyTech Synergies in Ohio, a consultant to the condom industry, said China is 'learning' to produce better condoms, but their products are still 'notoriously suspect.'” http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1100966-p2.html

“Notoriously suspect?!”
Why in the world would we adopt the birth control habits of the most overpopulated country in the world anyway? China would certainly be last on my list as the poster child for any sort of contraception? In fact, Chinese-made condoms are so bad that the manufacturers must resort to putting David Beckam's picture on their condoms, in order to sell any.

The Chinese have many complaints about their condoms. Among them, “too thick,” “too thin,” “low quality,” and “uncomfortable.” There have also been numerous complaints about unreadable expiration dates, says DNA World.

“So we're going to trust birth control, we're going to trust AIDS to the ChiComs?  They can't even make pet food, they can't even make kids' toys, and we're going to shut down 300 condom jobs start buying condoms from China?” asks an incredulous Rush Limbaugh.

According to, IRINews, 69 of 117 [Chinese] youths who were interviewed approved of condom sales in Chinese shops, with 31 against the idea.
One-third of those who opposed the idea listed as their reason the “bad quality of Chinese products.” 

www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82970
The average Chinese failure rate for condoms is 21%. Compare this to American's 12%. Is this really worth the gamble?