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[Kerry Verne]

"The new legislation imposes an additional third-party testing requirement for all consumer products primarily intended for children twelve years of age or younger."

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Home

CPSIA page: http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.html


I guess "Not suitable for children under 13." may become more prevalent.

[Eric Fuller]

I love #1 on the FAQ:

Q "Will the CPSIA tell me if my product conforms with the law?"
A "No, that's entirely up to you and we'll feel free to change the rules whenever we want so at any given moment you may or may not be breaking the law".

Reminds me of Atlas Shrugged...easy to control people when they are guilty of something.  Want to control them?  Pass so many laws that at any given moment, everyone's guilty of something.

I steer clear of political conversation on this forum, but I have to say it now once:  I dispise government with every bit of my being.

[Scott Peterson]

I agree!  WTF?!?  Kind of sad though - I have wondered what was coming everytime I hear of another toy recall...  I see handmade toys now and then and think to myself - man am I glad I didn't pick that for a hobby!

Maybe we could just stop importing crap with lead paint?  I guess that would be too easy!

[Johan Heyns]

I can just see the lawsuits the crazies will be thinking up.  I don't even live in the USA, but the reputation for lawsuits is just crazy!!

Example below

 
  BEST LAWYER STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE AND PROBABLY THE CENTURY.
Charlotte , North Carolina


A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things, fire.   Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost 'in a series of small fires.' The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.  The lawyer sued and WON!

(Stay with me.)

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable 'fire' and was obligated to pay the claim. Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars lost in the 'fires'.

NOW FOR THE BEST PART...

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!
With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

This is a true story and was the First Place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.
 

 
 
 

[FrankPotts]

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcigar.htm

Hmmmmm

[JWDiaz]

I wouldn't be so sure about that not being true. Anything odd or hard to believe ends up eventually labeled as an urban legend.

Just yesterday (12/8/08) something was in the news which will eventually be labeled an urban legend:  A 3-year old boy got lost in the woods and was found alive and in good spirits the next day. He survived the night in 17 degree weather because two puppies snugled up to him all night. Ain't that incredible?

[Phil Tomlinson]

I think snopes.com does a pretty good job of tracking urban legends, and they totally bust the cigar story:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp

As for the CPSA, they have a really mixed history--to some extent actually able to craft decent laws aimed at consumer safety, but more often than not getting caught up in politics and/or bureaucracy.  I used to build playgrounds for kids, and it was a mixed bag trying to interpret their rulings.

[Johan Heyns]

My apologies.  Rumour has it that Americans sue for everything, reason for passing that one along.

[Robert Yarger]

Wow, the benevolent dictator despises government, and Joahn, you have seriously hurt my feelings with your last post.  I think I will sue you now.

[Johan Heyns]

Jeez Robert, I didn't think it was possible.    Please note that it was qualified to "Rumour has it...."  I'm sure if it is so bad you can find a Bandaid in your workshop, or maybe not! 

Best part about government that I've seen in a while is an article about less government on Wayne Daniel's website.

[Eric Fuller]

Best part about government that I've seen in a while is an article about less government on Wayne Daniel's website.

Yup...the Kiwi's got it right that time.  Excellent article.  Makes me wish we could do something like that here in the US.

[Johan Heyns]

Here every ^$%&* "previously disadvantaged" is getting on, or trying to get on the government gravy train!!!  Bloody disgusting!!

[Robert Yarger]

I have a small bit of land, can't I get government substidy payments to "Not Grow Crops".   

[Kerry Verne]

Here every ^$%&* "previously disadvantaged" is getting on, or trying to get on the government gravy train!!!  Bloody disgusting!!

In the US, we prefer to give handouts to the banks and auto giants.

[Robert Yarger]

Well pooh!!!  I just wanted a small fraction of the bailout money that was "accidentially" not accounted for when it got handed out.  I guess the free ride is over for those of us who actually work for a living.  Suddenly, places like Austrailia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands are starting to look nice.  Call me an idealist, but I don't care to work harder to foot the bill for CEO's who don't know how to manage thier own companes, nor do I care to fund government programs for those who are capable but choose not to work as hard as I do.