Comments on: Baubles, bangles, bright shiny beads

By: Virginia Postrel

Virginia Postrel — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:45:18 +0000

WriterChick, you can’t blame Obama for this one. This crazy law was passed with very little controversy and signed by President Bush.

By: Old Grouch

Old Grouch — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:22:15 +0000

@Atheist,
The problem is not (usually) “full-o-lead” products: We’ve taken a lot of lead out of stuff over the last 50 years.

The problem here is:
+ Residual lead that creeps in unintentionally during the manufacturing process. (That’s where that California-mandated lead warning you see on vinyl extension cords comes from.)
+ Super-sensitive detectors, that can detect concentrations equivalent to one glass of water in a swimming pool..
+ Zero-tolerance laws that don’t consider safety levels, or how a product is used.
+ Enormous expense of certifying small-production or one-of-a-kind older items.
+ Draconian penalties (hundreds of thousands of dollars) for ANY violations.

The result: Stupid stuff like Goodwill dumpstering all their children’s toys and used bookstores (and libraries!) throwing away any children’s book printed before the 1960s.

By: anon

anon — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:25:44 +0000

When did CPSIA outlaw the 2nd law of thermodynamics?
The kids will be exposed to more lead from CFLs than they sparkly things even if they eat them.

By: fillyjonk

fillyjonk — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:51:10 +0000

CPSIA is scary, considering that they seem more likely to crack down on the parents trying to sell used baby clothes at a garage sale than some major corporation in some other country that has slipshod safety regulations.

I also know many people who sell handcrafted items who are very scared that they will be completely put out of business when this comes on-line, because they can’t afford the testing (even though they may use products that are generally considered to be safe, like wooden toys finished with natural beeswax).

By: Writer Chick

Writer Chick — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:34:42 +0000

Welcome to ObamaWorld where we protect you from everything that you want in life. From crystal beads for your tutu to red meat. From cars that have leg room to cigarettes. The better to lengthen your life and make your term of slavery to the State that much longer. I wonder how lead is in that phoney birth certificate of his.
Annie

By: CGHill

CGHill — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:30:37 +0000

I have a problem with anything with a zero tolerance, simply because such things do not exist in nature, except perhaps at absolute zero.

You can minimize risks; you can’t eliminate them. CPSIA thinks otherwise, which, I submit, is prima facie evidence that it’s a bad bill.

By: Closet Atheist

Closet Atheist — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:21:34 +0000

Is there no substitute for the lead-based products? Or is it that the substitute costs 2¢ more out of a $19.99 product that cost $2 to make and $8 to ship from China? One made in China because making and shipping it in the US cost $10.50?

Granted that lead isn’t dangerous like cyanide, but no one’s profit margins can justify the slow destruction of the brain, blood, and bones from lead.

By: fillyjonk

fillyjonk — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:21:08 +0000

Well, I know at least a few parents who will use this proposed legislation as an excuse to ban glitter from coming into their houses.

“But honey, we CAN’T do a craft project with glitter. The government says it might make you stupid.”

Me? I like glitter. But I’m subversive that way.(Lots of parents seem to really loathe glitter. I suppose it’s the fact that it’s almost impossible to totally vacuum out of carpeting.)