Comments on: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act as Bad as We Thought

By: RM1(SS) (ret)

RM1(SS) (ret) — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:23:23 +0000

Anything meant for use by or on children. That means used books and comic books, too.

By: Desertrat

Desertrat — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:11:32 +0000

J.Bang, you miss the point: If you sell a child’s item at your garage sale, it is up to you to have proof that it is lead-free. It is up to you–or a thrift store–to pay for the test. Item after item after item–and the equipment is exotic and each test is very expensive.

But you’ll do it or face criminal charges. Or quit selling “good used” children’s toys and clothes. Poor folks buy children’s clothes at GoodWill. Oops! “Used to buy children’s clothes at GoodWill.”

By: J. Bang

J. Bang — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:23:32 +0000

Hmm. Isn’t the textbook example of incomplete information market failure a USED car market. So, I guess someone should be able to sell a child faulty car seat (or one that’s been rendered unsafe by having been in a wreck) as long as it’s used? Or is the point here that everyone should know that any used item is suspect?

By: perlhaqr

perlhaqr — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:37:06 +0000

“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” — Ayn Rand

By: tyouth

tyouth — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:53:46 +0000

Taking this phenomena just a small step forward: With enough laws, totalitarian regimes can intimidate individuals (and small groups) by making anyone a charged criminal when it suits the aim of the bureaucracies. I think I’ve noticed a definite chill in the air during the last three or four months.

By: Constant

Constant — Thu, 07 May 2009 23:55:31 +0000

On the plus side, if government starts enforcing regulation against garage sales, ordinary people – that is to say, voters – may start to realize just how costly regulation really is, and may gain a new appreciation for the high cost of business regulation.