New Topic
Post Reply
Follow Topic
Here`s an excerpt from a good article on the so-called "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" signed into law. True, the actual testing has been delayed, but that doesn`t meant the law itself has gone away.
Small, “green” manufacturers, using only organic materials, could also be wiped out because they can’t afford the per-unit testing on their small production runs. This will increase the market share for large companies that are better able to absorb the compliance costs. Ironically, large toy makers, like Mattel, were responsible for the lead scare in the first place.
It gets worse . . .
The new regulations could even harm the health of low-income families. They may have to purchase new clothes if thrift stores are afraid to sell old ones. This would leave less money in tight budgets for things like nutritious food, medicine, and heating. Many of these products and services will also cost more because of the new regulations.
The current recession makes all of these problems more severe. The regulations also risk making the recession even worse.
The law went into effect this week (February 10, 2009). The testing requirements start a year from now. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has heard the complaints and are scrambling to adjust. In some instances they’re trying to make reasonable accommodations, but the law limits their discretion. The CPSIA is too flawed to amend; it must be scrapped.
It gets worse . . .
- Thrift store managers can’t afford to test old toys to comply with the new regulations. They may have to remove products or risk persecution from the government, crusading parent’s groups, and lawyers. This will badly hurt the low-income families who rely on such stores.
- Librarians don’t know how to comply with the new regulations: they may have to either pull children’s books from their shelves, or ban children from their libraries.
The new regulations could even harm the health of low-income families. They may have to purchase new clothes if thrift stores are afraid to sell old ones. This would leave less money in tight budgets for things like nutritious food, medicine, and heating. Many of these products and services will also cost more because of the new regulations.
The current recession makes all of these problems more severe. The regulations also risk making the recession even worse.
The law went into effect this week (February 10, 2009). The testing requirements start a year from now. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has heard the complaints and are scrambling to adjust. In some instances they’re trying to make reasonable accommodations, but the law limits their discretion. The CPSIA is too flawed to amend; it must be scrapped.
Meanwhile, Axelrod said today that he doesn`t really care what the markets are doing, they won`t influence the path taken by the new administration. As the DOW has lost 50% of its value, and world markets reacted negatively to the passage of the new "stimulus" bill.
Well, Obama did promise "change," I suppose. Barney Frank announced that he foresees huge new regulations by this summer (2009), along the lines of what FDR introduced. From what I read, that looks like major banking regulations, and presumably some sort of attempt to nationalize the banking industry.