My husband and I just had an interesting conversation in light of the most recent recall of more than 9 million hazardous toys from China. We were talking about how, as consumers, we may be partially to blame.

My husband and I *try* to live by the philosophy of quality vs. quantity, although we are no strangers to appeasing our three children with cheap plastic toys from The Dollar Store when parental judgment lapses momentarily. It’s an inexpensive slice of satisfaction.

As a people, however, we tend to overlook real value and choose what’s cheap. We are bargain shoppers, whether it is for clothes or food or services, yet we expect quality goods at an affordable price. We put the pressure on retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart to sell inexpensive toys for our children and they, in turn, tighten the noose on toy companies to line their store shelves. It’s only logical that Mattel would turn to what’s been called “America’s Toy Chest,” China, to manufacture these “quality” toys at rock-bottom prices.

Mattel, of course, is pointing the finger at China, and rightly so. Mattel claims that a subcontractor with the company that produced the lead-paint tainted toys violated an agreement to use a specific type of paint. Evidently, the subcontractor went out and purchased its own paint for, what I imagine, less money. This latest recall makes the seventh since March 2007.

Not only was our son told that he would have to give up some of his beloved Thomas trains, our daughter has now been asked to hand over her magnetic Polly Pockets, the latest, of which, she received less than a month ago as a birthday gift.

You gotta love China!

Apparently, the problem could worsen as China continues to grow in exports and their safety measures become less stringent as a result.

Less stringent? Aren’t they less stringent now?

Did you know that the United States relies on China to supply about 80% of its toys? Yikes!

I have just one thing to say to China: Thanks, but no thanks. We’ll find our toys elsewhere.

Click here to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission .