What happens when you go to the federal government to fix a problem?

I ripped this from Matt Howes on the Campaign for Liberty. The original url is http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=6735.

This is such a good example of how the federal government creates problems, I felt I needed to re-post here. The liberal chimps on our campus often think the federal government is the solution. I don't think they'll see the light until the government takes away their bananas from them.

In any case, here we go:

-- snip, snip, cut here --

... when you ask for federal intervention.

Recent cases of lead in children's toys brought cries for the federal government to act. Never one to turn down an opportunity to expand its power, act it did.

Lead paint spurred the recall of 45 million toys last year, mostly made in China for larger manufacturers. Parents flocked to stores like The Playstore in the recall's aftermath searching for safer alternatives.

Lawmakers also responded. In August, President Bush imposed the world's strictest lead ban in products for children 12 or younger by signing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

However...

Small toy makers strongly back the restrictions in the bill, which they say reflect voluntary standards they have long observed to keep harmful substances out of toys. But they never thought their products would also be considered a threat...

.

And now...

Toy makers are required to pay a third-party lab for the testing and to put tracking labels on all toys to show when and where they were made....

As a result...

Without changes to strict new safety rules, they say, mom-and-pop toy makers and retailers could be forced to conduct testing and labeling they can't afford, even if they use materials as benign as unfinished wood, organic cotton and beeswax....

Although the law exempts products that do not threaten the public health, it is up to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to decide what those products are.

One European toy maker has already announced it will stop its exports to the U.S. because of the law's costs and uncertainties. Selecta Spielzeug, a German company, said earlier this month that it will stop shipping its wooden push toys, games and other products to 1,200 U.S. stores after Dec. 31....

I don't want harmful levels of lead in children's toys as much as the next guy, but one has to keep in mind the dangers of running to the federal government to solve the problem. Now many of these small companies, who make products that do not contain any lead whatsoever, could be driven entirely out of business, or at the very least have to make drastic cuts to staff and product lines.

Meanwhile, the big companies causing the problem will continue to roll along - albeit with less competition in the marketplace. So, a law intended to tighten the screws on them has instead made them stronger. Once again, long-term effects of a policy and its consequences on those it wasn't meant for reap their ugly harvest.

Read the full Yahoo article here for more information.

Congressman Paul was the only member of the House to oppose the legislation referenced by this article.

technorati tags:
political news | news | world news
More at: News 2 Cromley