We all fall down...
The cost of the CPSIA mounts up, more people lose businesses, inventory, and jobs.
How regulation hurts the small businesses and diverse, unique, hand-crafted markets the most, which brings me to the question that continues to puzzle me- these are the markets and models progressives profess to love, yet they elected the officials who are passing these bills (see the roll call list of sponsors for the horrid act that will put farmer's markets out of business and give enforcers a financial incentive to shut businesses down), and they are the contributors to the likes of PIRG and Public Citizen, who pushed through the CPSIA.
Two billion dollars in losses in the toy industry alone, and the CPSIA also affects the clothing industry, books, bed linens, mini biking (now completely shut down), BIBS (!)- which have to be phthalate tested even if there is no plastic on the bib, cribs, pacifiers, bottles, ball point pens, papers, desks, chairs, plates, cups, utensils- the list goes on.
Waxman thinks the law is strong, workable, and a grand idea, any problems are the Commission's fault, and he does not see a need for another meeting until Obama appoints a new head of the Commission.
Here's another look at how the CPSIA prevents the niche marketing that provides the tools and resources those of us with special needs children cannot get through the mainstream.
Question the Culture blog questions the affects my posts have on her blood pressure.=) She suggests that the CPSC mind find books have a longer shelf life than 20 years if they try reading them instead of, well, whatever it is they do with them.
The President and CEO of Learning Enterprises (Rick Woldenberg is the chairman) has some experiences working with the highly regulated food industries, and he explains to Rep. Dingel some of the many, many problems with the CPSIA as written:
The overhead and infrastructure needed to comply with the CPSIA is more than all but a tiny percentage of American children’s products businesses could handle. Compliance activities under the CPSIA are completely unreasonable for small manufacturers, single location stores or even small retail chains. By placing this burden (and the associated risk of civil and criminal penalties) on companies in this space, the new law will certainly foster and accelerate a transformation of the business community toward mass consolidation. This pressure is why there are no small drug or food ingredient companies anymore, and that’s why the CPSIA will make small children’s products companies an endangered species, too.
Here's Tristan's letter to Dingell.
Polka Dot Patch went to a trade show and found manufacturers at all stages of awareness, confusion, and misinformation. Interesting reading.
Not directly related to CPSIA, but PIRG was one of the heavy muscle groups that pushed this law through and appears to manage a number of astroturfing efforts across the web, and they like to talk in shrill terms about toxic toys, lead laced toys, and greedy businessmen just in it for the money without regard for their customers. And they are not very nice people to work for.
Rick Woldenberg is organizing a rally:
I am pleased to announce that on April 1 there will finally be an opportunity to go to Capitol Hill to tell Congress directly about the terrible impact of the CPSIA on our lives and businesses. Having been repeatedly denied the opportunity to explore the issues created by the CPSIA in public hearings by both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Small Business since December, we have elected to organize our own rally and open hearings for this purpose. This unprecedented event is a true demonstration of democracy at work - the People will not be denied their say in this vitally important matter. The date - April Fool's Day - is ironic but the open hearing and rally are quite real and will be held on time with a full slate of speakers and a wide range of participants. This event will include support from numerous trade organizations and is expected to feature remarks by Members of Congress as well as scientists and representatives of various organizations affected by the legislation such as small businesses, libraries, charities and thrift stores. This event will also be open to the media.
People who break the law are not stopped by making new laws, which might explain why there are still Chinese imports showing up with lead.
Updated CPSIA word cloud.
Mini biking is not a crime, but buying motor biking equipment for a child 12 or under is. Pin It
