Today’s WSJ has an editorial on the malign effects of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act–specifically, its impact on children’s books.
The CPSIA issue should be of great concern to everyone who values entrepreneurship and the ability of individuals to create and thrive outside of large, credential-obsessed bureaucracies. It is disappointing that the conservative/libertarian blogosphere hasn’t been more aggressive in publicizing the problems with this legislation.
Link via Shopfloor
The CPSIA issue seems to be another in the long line of decisions based on the idea that “If it saves the life of even one child, then it is worth it”.
One can point out that thousands of businesses will be ended, and much income and enjoyment in life will end, especially for children. They answer that it is monstrous to compare a child’s life to a bit of economic welfare for businesspeople.
The proper argument is that economic well-being is not separate from life, but also saves and improves lives. Business supports better autos, car maintenance, medical care, time to pay attention, and the ability to buy more expensive toys that don’t have lead attached. It is not lives versus dollars, but lives versus lives. The regulation that saves the life of one identifiable child acts to make people poorer, and so kills more than one anonymous child.
Just in time for the big rally…here’s “Seven Myth-busting Facts About the CPSIA.” http://www.thepoptort.com/2009/04/seven-mythbusting-facts-about-the-cpsia.html