The more that I read of this long poorly written document the angrier I become. Let me ask a simple question. The problem that led to this Orwellian legislation was what exactly? Lets see, lead products hurting children right? Now where were these lead products coming from? Were children getting sick off of handcraft items? Not in any reports I have seen. All the reports I have seen show most of the offensive products coming from China. So why the legislation that hurts everyone? So big companies can stomp out the competition? So big companies don’t have deal with the movement to buy handmade? So they don’t have to worry about the mom and pop “buy in the USA” shops cutting into their profits?
So here is my theory. My theory is these companies purposely put lead in their products to initiate a crackdown for everyone. This was the surefire way to stop people from taking away any of their business since they could easily afford testing of their products but not the average small handmade business. Yet another bonus, what better way to cut out any losses from moms and dads selling their kids clothing and used toys forcing everyone to buy new or nothing!
Now maybe I am being a little devious with my next thought but I do believe in fighting fire with fire, loopholes are often a place to start. If parents want to continue to sell their products/used items without submitting for testing then make it very clear that the toys you make or are reselling are for collectors only and not intended for children under the age of 12. As artists we really have little control over what “stupid parents” decide to do with the products we sell right? You say it is not intended for children under 12 then the parents are to blame if they let their child play with it. After all you made it very clear in your listing right?
For the record I am a photographer and jewelry designer. None of my products are designed or made for children period but I am still outraged by this legislation. We have a large part of our nation in a huge financial crisis. Parents cannot afford to buy their children new clothing or new toys. They depend on the secondhand market and now because of the knucklehead bureaucratic morons in our government many people will suffer. The only people who will gain are the ones who put poison in our children’s products to begin with. Hmm, hardly seems like a punishment for the companies who are to blame!
1 response so far ↓
cassie // January 9, 2009 at 4:08 am |
I am very disapointed as I am passionate about sewing. I just sewed 4 beautiful girls dresses to sell in my Etsy shop and I just learned about this new law. This law applies to clothing as well and it hurts to think that in just a few weeks my beautiful dresses that I made will be illegal for me to sell and considered hazerdous. I read that there may be some exeptions such as natural materials such as natural unfinished wood and cotton. I wonder if the cotton must be dye free or if I will be able to put cute buttons on them. Is America turning towards communism? After all the lead toy recalls from China, people trust and turn towards handcrafted items that are made in America. So, why hurt the small handcrafters? I wish that America could just ban toys from China, but that will not happen because of corporate greed! The government doesn’t care about the little people. Are all the handcrafters going to receive a bailout?!