Harder than I thought

I have spent the last few weeks trying to live as close to home as I can. As I have put back pair after pair of shoes bearing the "Made in China" label, I have become increasingly frustrated. Why is all of our stuff made somewhere else? Why should I have to import my bra from Indonesia or China or Thailand?
The fact is, its cheaper. That's it. I can go to Target and buy a baby outfit made in China for one of my many new "nephews" for $7.99. But if I want an outfit made in the U.S.A., well Good Luck. I did find some Made in the U.S.A. baby clothes made of organic cotton which retail for $24.99. For the occasional gift, that's not a problem. But could I really outfit my own child in Made in the U.S.A. organic clothes without breaking the bank? I don't know.

But I guess the question comes down to the real cost of things. So I buy an outfit from China today and save $15.00. But what is the long term cost of that decision on my country's economy, the well-being of the workers in China (who are clearly being paid much less than a similar worker in the U.S. would be paid) and the effect on the environment from all that transportation? And perhaps this is part of my mission this year -- to look at the costs in a bigger, more global manner. Because in the end, saving $15 dollars today so I can take a trip to Alaska won't matter much if the glaciers are gone by the time I get there.