YEA! Change on Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

Consignment stores and yard sales etc. selling used kids' items are now exempt from the inspection required for new products. What a relief!

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

Shocking law about to go into effect

My friend Joy just knocked my socks of this morning by referring to this article in the L.A. Times. I had never heard of it, but after an hour of research online, I have checked the US government's site, and there are also numerous mentions of this article all over the internet. A new law (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) scheduled to go into effect on February 10, 2009 will affect millions of Americans who depend on second-hand items for their children.

If this is true and seems to be, and you frequent consignment shops, thrift stores, or yard sales to buy, donate, or sell children's clothing and toys, then your life is about to drastically change.

Here is the gist of it:
"The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead."

Why we haven't heard anything before now about it, and how it was passed by Congress and signed into law, I do not understand. Apparently the bailout was the focus of everyone's attention and this got no media notice. I'm concerned and disturbed. I'm not sure if contacting lawmakers now does any good, since it would be difficult to change the law, but I think we need to try to do something. The law goes into effect overnight, so that products are available one day, then illegal to purchase the next without inspection certificates. Thrift stores and consignment stores will not be able to afford testing, so will go out of business. Yard sales of children's clothing and toys manufactured will no longer be legal. Homemade clothing items for sale will not be allowable, unless it meets certain standards. This is yet another example of the government's over-involvement in our daily affairs. Whatever happened to personal resposibility? So, what do we do?

Links with the details:
Website with info regarding Commission
The Act itself
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Ballot and Brief

UPDATE at 2:00:

I have contacted my Congressman, and Senators. I'm awaiting responses from them. I also got in touch with American Family Association, whose rep. hadn't heard of the Act either. She referred me to the American Center for Law and Justice, and I have now emailed them asking for advice and how we can respond. I'm getting a lot of responses from you all, and everyone obviously agrees this is a huge problem. Lower income families depend almost entirely on thrift stores, etc. for their clothing needs, and I'm wondering how they will survive without that resource. I think we need to set up our own massive freecycle network, instead of depending on outside sources in the future, since they appear to be on the verge of extinction...

Randomness

My head is hurting, but my brain is busy. I'm going to unwind here before hitting the pillow....

- Johnny and June Carter Cash are on a great episode of Little House on the Prairie we watched yesterday, entitled "The Collection." I heard his voice from the other room, and called out to Abigail, "What are you watching?" She answered, "Little House!" I ran into see that great Man in Black, and we ended up starting it over so I could watch the whole thing. What an amazing character he was. It made me think of my Dad, and how we both love Cash. My Dad is incredible. And, he does a mean "Ring of Fire."

- A lady named Sue Rainwater died Friday, and it's shaken me up. I met her once. Her family attends church with my parents, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer right around the time my folks met her. She went through surgery and treatment, and then was fine. Soon afterward, Mom had cancer. Sue was one of the first people Mom knew who had cancer, and survived. She was a great encouragement to Mom, when Mom was going through treatment. Then, that awful disease came back recently, and Sue quickly deteriorated. My Mom went to see her a couple of weeks ago. She said I wouldn't have even known Sue was sick by just looking at her, except that she was in the bed. Her funeral is tomorrow. I guess it's just hard, realizing she was first diagnosed just before my Mom, and my Mom seems fine today too. You just never know with this disease, and that's why we have to appreciate every healthy, enjoyable moment. So, I'm super thankful for my Mom's life right now.

- My three kiddos are all sleeping, and it's so quiet and peaceful, after a non-quiet day. How very nice it is to type with both hands, and use capital letters, which are a rare thing with Elijah's extreme dislike of computer usage. I'm usually juggling him, and pecking with one hand.

- It's November. Christmas is next month. I am looking forward to not being on bedrest, or awaiting the imminent arrival of a baby this year. He's actually here for us to enjoy, and I can bake, and make gifts, and decorate, with relative ease. I'm also very excited about weighing 44 pounds less than this time last year!!

- We're enjoying a week without field trips. I can't believe it. We have been super busy with awesome trips so much this year, and they have all been really fun and educational. But, it'll be nice to be home for 5 days straight.

- I need to plant. My yard is suffering from major neglect, and my spirit is missing digging in the dirt. I have to get pansies and snapdragons soon. This is a necessity.

- I'm reading a great prequel right now. It's Before Green Gables. I requested it from a neighboring library because someone else recommended it. I realize how much I have missed Anne and her silliness, her vocabulary, and her spirit. I also think I have a bit of Anne in my Abi-girl. Kim, it keeps reminding me of you too! (LATER---finished it, and it was good!!)

- And, here are my thoughts on the presidential race. I have been pondering how God let Israel choose a king, and they chose Saul. Then, Saul turned out to be horrible at leading the people, fearful, disobedient, tormented by evil spirits, and jealous to the point of attempting murder numerous times. Thankfully, David became king after him, and he was God's choice, and was the 'man after God's own heart' that we all admire. Despite his plethora of mistakes, he continually longed to follow God, returned to Him, after his struggles, and he left us dozens of psalms to witness of his life - his trust, his fears, his failings, and his passion for his Father. What a great follow-up David was to a really awful ruler!

So, I'm not despairing or even nervous anymore. In case any of you are trepidatious about Tuesday's outcome, read this passage below. It is full of truth, and encouragement. Our hope for change can't be in a man, but in the Lord. We're probably going to survive, regardless of who is elected. Things may be different, or even bad, as a result of the leadership we choose for our country. God isn't going to need our votes to accomplish His will, and He won't be surprised with whom the majority of votes go to. I know many of us have prayed for our country to turn back to God and to experience a revival, and sometimes that takes hardship, brokenness, and even persecution. My Dad loves to say that trials build character. We should pray that we'll respond to the naming of our new president with hope that maybe Americans will realize that only God can heal hurts, fufill lives, and help us cope in a poor economy, and hopefully, we'll build some character as a result. Thanks, God, and David, for the reminder.

Psalm 25

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.

18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!