Comments on: CPSIA: “Children’s books have limited useful life (approx 20 years)”

By: April E. Coggins

April E. Coggins — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:12:04 +0000

If I can make a small suggestion to all the bloggers who are covering the CPSIA, link directly to the official website of the politician that you are complaining about. It is important to show exactly who is responsible for this bad law.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:52:26 +0000

When I read this line in the presentation I couldn’t help laughing. Maybe they should calculate a half-life for us instead?

By: Zoe Brain

Zoe Brain — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:43:20 +0000

As an Australian, Catherine, those are Fighting Words.

You send Congress to Australia, and you will be prosecuted in every International Court we can find. We do not want your toxic waste here.

Childrens Books though – yes, we’ll take those. Even if they’re 20, 30 or 100 years old. First mark them “Collectible books for adults, for export outside the USA only, NOT TO BE SOLD TO ANYONE UNDER 18” and we’ll take as many of them as you’d care to send. I guarantee that all the buyers will be over 18.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:24:25 +0000

Melanie, you put it exactly right, taking in stray pets! (Okay, I’ve never had any pets, stray or otherwise, but it does feel as I imagine that would.)

By: Catherine Jaime

Catherine Jaime — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:36:45 +0000

I like Carol’s idea of sending Congress to Australia, so we can start over again.

Don’t tell the CPSC folks but I just bought all sorts of children’s books from a library book sale that were well over 20 years old! (Well, no, scratch that — they were family books, “clearly intended for children 13 and up”)

By: tanj

tanj — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:09:46 +0000

To be fair perhaps they meant that a child’s book would be of use to the original owner for ~20 years or less.

However, given the obvious thought and foresight exemplified in this legislation, perhaps those involved should realize that the books in question are at an appropriate reading level for them.

By: Happymom4

Happymom4 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:31:01 +0000

Do we need to PEACEFULLY demonstrate outside of the Library of Congress?! I can just see us each there with a stack of old books in our arms . . . they wouldn’t dare touch those lead filled things now, would they? So we might be allowed to do our thing. 😉

By: ras

ras — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:22:11 +0000

What this really means is that the CPSIA micro-managers have realized that they screwed up and that everyone knows it, so they are now trying to justify, rather than deny, the results. (Kinda like the “I never hit him and anyway he deserved it” defense).

Won’t help them, though. Keep up the pressure and offer them a means to quietly surrender without losing face; they’ll take it rather than suffer the narcissist’s nightmare of being publicly inferior.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:16:54 +0000

This just stuns me! About the time I think I’ve heard all of the most ridiculous statements from our government, along comes this one! only useful for 20 years???? I LOVE old books, and in fact in recent weeks, have been buying them for those who are still selling…I feel like I might be saving them from a dumpster or bonfire…kind of like taking in stray pets! I just shudder at the thought of what we will lose as a society if this stands, and we do indeed remove all books for children that were printed pre 1985…God help us. I think it’s time for me to write yet another letter to my congressmen and I will include a copy of this slide from the CPSC. And I agree with some of the other posters…I think Congress critters aren’t much use after 20 years! (or less for that matter!)

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:00:50 +0000

I have never heard of anything so stupid in my life. Did someone vote for these idiots or are they the kind of idiots that you don’t get to vote for?