What if instead of boycotting Chinese goods we had someone knowledgeable

[Skidmore]

in how to marshal capital to help clusters of development groups made up of small investors to set up local industries? I know the government theoretically has such programs but by now they've been corrupted. I'm suggesting a movement, not just a business venture, in much the same vein as what bloggers have done to redefine media. I don't have the foggiest idea how to plan or implement something like this but what I'm thinking of would have to be designed with a community interest at heart and use its profits to reinvest in the local business with a portion designated to go to the supporting the infrastructure of its locaton. Before someone snidely puts this down as being naive, I will readily admit that I may not be communicating this well. If the government will do nothing but subvert the will of the people and actively work to hurt the nation, then I think that we cannot rely on those structures which have been put in place to do these things and that we need to think outside the box, or invent a new type of container. A Not-a-Box structure, if you will.

Well, hell, just flame away. But would be interested in some solid input.

[Skidmore]

1. An additional comment to help clarify and to float this to

the top again. I'm thinking about something like those small groups they use in third world nations to start businesses/industries. I just think we need to use something very different than the same old economic models.

[Canuckistanian]

4. It's called Microcredit

Here's Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit

BTW, here's a site that let's you contribute DIRECTLY to third-world micro-loans:
http://www.kiva.org/

[Clark2008]

2. .

http://www.ruralstrategies.org/projects/cpi.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Or let folks know about stuff made here

If you want quality wooden toys, kaleidoscopes, etc, then check out Dave Spenser's toys at

http://www.spencerwoodentoys.com

Dave has been an activist for decades, in both politics and about the environment.

If you use liquid soap in the shower, WHITE RAIN is made in the USA. And this is a product you can get at the Dollar store!