* I just talked to my Congressman’s office and found some new press releases saying that the law is going to be changed, resellers and charities won’t be included. But it doesn’t change my desire to write this blog post.*
In August of last year a law was quietly passed in America to “protect the children”. You know law makers love to say stuff like that. Anyway the law stated that all places who sell products for children (defined as 12 and under) are required to have all of the items tested for lead before selling by 1 one of just 15 independent testing companies.
Sounds great right? Protect the kiddos from all the horrible toys from foreign countries. Right? It would just be for toys and jewelry right? NOPE. The law included clothes. Yes, clothes. So you might be asking yourself why is that bad? What’s the harm in that?
Here is the harm. It was going to require that consignment shops and any other resellers do this, not just places like Target or other retailers. And guess what? It also applied to people holding garage sales (you know, at YOUR house) and if you sold on eBay or Craigslist. That’s right, you can’t resale your children’s clothes that your children already wore without independent testing that you pay for out of pocket.
So many small business owners have been in a major panic that they will have to close their resale shops and places like the Goodwill and churches would no longer be able to sell things for children. All charities would be included in the law.
Here is why I got upset about the Nanny State thing. The government knows what’s best for us, what’s best for our kids, right? (the answer is no) Let’s think this through to it’s logical conclusion.
How many poor families DEPEND on places like the Goodwill and church based charities for clothes and toys for their kids? So what happens if they can’t buy things for cheap? They need more welfare OR they might need to start welfare because they can’t afford food AND new clothes and toys. So what does that mean? More taxes!! All because of some law was poorly written.
So what would the end of this be? A “stimulus plan or bailout” to help poor people buy new clothes and toys for their children? *eyeroll* But I guess new jobs would be created – little clipboard wielding bureaucrats driving up and down neighborhood streets looking for garage sale violators!! “Go ahead and advertise your garage sale, then we will know right where you are. MU HA HA HA HA!!”
One part of the CPSIA law requires that manufacturers do the testing before selling the toys and other items in America. Good. Big companies can afford that, but why in the world would you do this to resellers?
And why in the world would it include garage sales? Do you know that the original wording included a $100,000 fine, for the average reseller or charity. Oh the “Nanny State”, how I detest you!
Here is the press release from yesterday stating that changes would be made. Thank goodness.