Comments on: CPSIA and books: “A bad law threatens our past”

By: GregS

GregS — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:15:27 +0000

I think the CPSIA’s attack on children’s books is aimed at forestalling the next generation from being any smarter than an average member of Congress.

By: Jim Collins

Jim Collins — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:55:54 +0000

Our local librarian is of the “progressive” mindset. She is using this as an excuse to remove books that she finds objectionable from the children’s section. These include the works of Beaverly Clearly, Dr. Suess and others.

By: Scott M

Scott M — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:04:45 +0000

I saw a short segment on Headline News this morning, trumpeting that the new, tighter levels of lead regulations are going into effect. They praised how labels and packaging had to say where the product was made, etc. It was distressingly shallow and had zero reference to the “few” problems with this law. One could infer from the way the story was delivered that lead poisoning was an ongoing epidemic that this law is going to cure.

Policiticians and MSM have zero ability to look beyond the message that can sell, and as a result, has sold us all out.

By: Carol Baicker-McKee

Carol Baicker-McKee — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:15:58 +0000

Thanks Walter. That’s an excellent article by Elizabeth Mullaney Nicol.

It breaks my heart that so many months after the implementation of a law with so much wrong with it, we have made essentially no progress toward a rational reform of it. I am furious that Waxman will not even hold hearings, disappointed that the appointment of a third commissioner and new head of the CPSC has had no impact, and discouraged that still so few Americans are even aware of this law.

My local library continues to circulate older children’s books – but I have the impression that they’re quicker to deem old, less-in-demand volumes obsolete and to discard them. Their used bookstore no longer accepts or sells kids’ books printed in 1984 or earlier. I can still find old books at estate sales and yard sales – but prices seem to have risen on amazon, Half Price Books only carries older titles in their collectible area (which has limited space and higher prices), and my local thrift stores are either no longer stocking them or receiving them as donations (I suspect the former).

Older kids’ books are being slowly purged from our society, and it will be a loss for us all, but especially for children. In addition, we need to keep in mind that new books are still not safe from decimation by the CPSIA – as far as I know there have been no permanent exemptions for new printed materials, and publishers are definitely reducing the number of novelty books and books-plus formats they are producing.

I keep nagging my legislators, but I think they’re not even pretending to listen anymore. How disillusioning.

By: Richard Nieporent

Richard Nieporent — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:23:18 +0000

These are some of the recent legislative “accomplishments” of Henry Waxman: CPSIA, Food Safety Bill, Cap and Trade Climate bill, Health care bill. Is there any poorly thought out bill that he is not responsible for?