Thursday, January 29, 2009

You're not going to believe this...

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is feeling its oats these days, it would appear. In the name of our children's safety, it's trying to destroy the thrift store industry by requiring all children's clothing and products to be tested before resale. Yeah, right. My family would have to start going nekkid without thrift stores, so we are very alarmed at this news. We have heard that, having had no choice but to hear the insistent, loud complaints of thrift store retailers and families like mine who would, indeed, go nekkid, the CPSC changed its mind and relaxed its stringent rules. But, just a bit.

We are hoping that before the enactment of the Product Safety Improvement Act on February 10th, a little more sanity might prevail. But, it won't without more pestering from those of us who care about this.

Here is where to write your Senator.

Here is where to write your Reps.

But, Hang onto Your Hat,
THERE'S MORE
As if the thrift store thing weren't enough, check out the following:

CPSC ruling requires children’s books to be removed for safety testing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) released a letter to Congress yesterday, urging members to take action against a recent opinion ruling released from the General Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that would require public, school, academic and museum libraries to either remove all their books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities, beginning on February 10.

This a direct quote from the American Library Association website.

(H/T: Alice at A Number of Things)

Here are some links to where you can have your voice heard to end this insanity at the library.
And, make sure your Reps and Senators hear from you about this, too.

Can you see the constant erosion of our rights going on here? Do you see that it may become illegal to have a yardsale in our country? We will not be able to enjoy children's books with our children unless we buy them new. The liberal wakkos are running amok!

And it's only just begun, folks.

God help America.

7 comments:

Aimee said...

This also applies to anyone who makes handcrafted items that can be used for children 12 and under. This means that a lot of the SAHMs who make burp cloths or flannel diapers or little hairbows, trying to make some money from home, would not be able to sell their things unless tested by a government approved facility -- at an exorbitant fee, of course.

Meanwhile, these handmade items are often made of materials that surpass the government's standard of safety. Lots of people who sell things on Etsy, etc . . . would be out of business.

The crazy thing is that many people turn to handmade items as an alternative to mass produced, and often dangerous, imported items. The very thing that the CPSC says they are trying to protect us from.

The wording of the bill needs to be clarified and narrowed down. It's insane the way it is.

Anonymous said...

Think about all the small family businesses that are going to be affected about this. I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago at my blog Crazy, crazy world.

Anonymous said...

Goodness gracious me! We only have one baby, but I've been going to thrift stores and goodwill since I was a teenager. You would think with the economy the way it is that our congress (who do get paid very well) would consider these places a good way for people to get by in a crisis. I've never been one to pester but they are getting out of control. Thanks for sharing.

Soutenus said...

I must be dreaming (nightmaring) . . . . . this is crazy.

Anonymous said...

I just had a thought! Could this effect Ebay users from selling (and buyers buying) their used and old stuff on the internet as well? That won't fly.

Sarah - Kala said...

What is the gov't going to do with all that refuse if it can't be sold? What about the "environment"? This is complete madness.

MightyMom said...

yikes, we're all going to have to quit working and return to sewing our own clothes and making our own toys....

or just go nekkid, that'd be a bit easier...you might wanna head somewhere a bit warmer though....

;-)