CPSIA Protest Idea

[#1]

OK, this is just a pipe dream, but what if we all took some handmade children's item and mailed it to the office of, say, Rep. Bobby Rush (chair of the committee on Energy and Commerce). Each item would have a label that said:

On Feb. 10, 2009 this item will turn into a
[really big font]HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE[end really big font]
Don't let this happen, modify CPSIA now!

Just think if he had to step over all these cute handmade things staring him in the face!

[Former_Member]

julianne, thanks for contacting the media... I'd love to see the link!

[Former_Member]

marking for leadinspector.com

[Former_Member]

Marking. Have read through to page 31 so far. What a nightmare.

[Former_Member]

some more people to contact and get the word out

Rush Limbaugh
Call-in: 1-800-282-2882
Fax: 1-212-563-9166
Email: Rush@eibnet.com
Mailing address:
The Rush Limbaugh Show
2 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121
Rush Limbaugh Homepage

Sean Hannity
Call-in: 1-800-941-SEAN (7326)
Contact the show
Mailing address:
The Sean Hannity Show
2 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121
Sean Hannity Homepage G. Gordon Liddy
Call-in: 1-800-445-4339
Email: liddyshow@aol.com
Mailing address:

The G. Gordon Liddy Show
8750 Brookville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
G. Gordon Liddy Homepage Neal Boortz
Call-in: 1-877-310-2100
Email: boortzshow@cox.com
Mailing address:
The Neal Boortz Show
1601 W. Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Neal Boortz Home Page Michael Reagan
Call-in: 1-800-468-MIKE (1-800-468-6453)
Fax: 1-888-226-4430
Mailing address:

Michael Reagan Show
PO Box 6061-405
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
Michael Reagan Homepage
Pam
www.rebekahsbowtique.com

[Former_Member]

This whole ordeal has me sick to the stomach. I just don't understand how the government can be so absolutely obtuse and do they not realize that the starting BASIS of America was indeed small business? Mom and Pop shops that started this great nations business infrastructure? Anyone remember Five & Dime's? Wal-Mart started as one! America has turned into this beast that favors the large corporations and leaves the little guys in the dust.

I want to quit my job and make a living doing blankets, bibs and other baby items. Am I going to be able to do that now? There is hope. They passed an amendment (and excuse me if this has already been mentioned) recently that excludes stores such as Goodwill and other persons selling used child and baby items. Which is a step in the right direction.

I believe that they will make amendments as they go along, but how long that will take is beyond me.

I made a few bibs and burp cloths last evening and I'm going to send them on utilizing the plan that has been do diligently discussed in this thread. It is terribly ridiculous that I would have to cease my creations because of a governmental agency that is not taking into consideration the country-wide impact that this will create. Not only higher consumer costs from large corporations that must pass the costs onto the consumers, but the impact of destroying small businesses who ACTUALLY work hard to make it through life. Never mind people that don't work a day and collect money from the government. Let's attack the small workers to further create a jobless market.

Brilliant!

I will be sending on an ADORABLE bib personalized with Mr. Rush's initials and a burp cloth to match. This sickens me to no avail! I'm going to join the protest for sure!

[Former_Member]

Does that mean that effective Feb. 2009 we cannot dress any child under the age of 12 in any clothes we either bought or made ourselves prior to Feb. 2009?

Does that mean that after Feb. 2009 a childs family will not be able to hold said child because the parents and siblings clothing may be contaminated?

Does that mean that we cannot put a child in its car seat because the fabric may be contaminated?

What about the washing? We put our babies clothes in the same washer we use for the rest of the family. You know the washer does not completely drain after each wash.

I would like to know how it is possible for something like this bill, so poorly written and thought out, to have made it so far as to become law? I guess the economy is not as bad as we think it is.

I think that they should put a moratorium on this law until they fine tune it some more. If the powers that be did not allow all the bad components to come into the country in the first place, we would not be having this converstation. I think this burden should be put on the manufacturers and importers of goods used in the US, not the US consumer.

[Former_Member]

You make some excellent points pinkbonnet! It would be interesting to me to hear the CPSA responses to your questions.

[Former_Member]

Okay, so I was just sitting here drinking my evening tea and had a wonderful thought. Since the lawmakers like to put such emphasis on formal interpretation of everything they write, and since they have excluded items that are being 'resold' since they are 'used', can't we all just consider every item as 'used' since it TECHNICALLY did get use when we had to have it modeled and take pics? (I don't think the law makes it illegal to put untested items on our own children, right) Of course, this won't be great for sales here on etsy, but for those that have their own site,....hmmmmmm????? LOL

[Former_Member]

what to do...what to do...I feel like our voices are probably being heard, but ignored. I think the idea of sending a package would be a great way to make sure they don't ignore anymore!

[Former_Member]

I just got of the phone with billy rush' a office and talked to a sweet guy named andrew. All organic cloth is exempt. You only have to test things that might have lead. Go to the department of energy and commerce and it's the last link on the page that has the new amendment. I sell organic dolls and he said I have NOTHING to worry about. Now my dolls do NOT contain any metal. He was very nice and answered all questions
Call Andrew at. 202-235-4372
I feel better

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone,

I think you should check out http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/cpsia.asp
It's not as bad as everyone thinks! Thank goodness!!!!

[Former_Member]

THEPINKBONNET says:
I would like to know how it is possible for something like this bill, so poorly written and thought out, to have made it so far as to become law? I guess the economy is not as bad as we think it is.
************************************************

Is this not the same gang (mostly) that passed (without bothering to read), "The Patriot Act..." ?

why am i not surprised??

[meredithdillman]

Actually snopes is wrong. Thier article aplies to the reasale on USED goods. Thift stores are still held to the same standards, meaning the same fines and penalties applying to large companies. They don't have to test (according to a press release only) but they don't have any way of knowing otherwise. So many of them are deciding it is not worth a fine.

And the other "ammendments" are not actual changes yet. Those are on hold because of the the administration.

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/cpsia-waxman-cpsc-oped-cx_wo_0122olson.html

[Former_Member]

I'm in!

[Former_Member]

I sent mine in last Friday. I sent in a a "Hazmat One Size Rayne Catcher Diaper" a cloth diaper key chain, a letter, a few business cards, a hand written note on the back of a business logo business post card and a small portfolio of my OOAK clothing and diapers. I also noted that Weddings will become quite boring, seeing how young bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers won't be able to wear custom made apparel anymore. This is a sad sad thing if they don't fix it in time.

[Former_Member]

I think this is by far the most amazing idea I've heard of yet! I have to mail some of my *not quite yet* hazardous bows today, and I'm definitely sending him some stuff! Way to go, amazing protesting crafty people! Love it!!

[chamekke]

Has anyone issued any press releases yet to tell the media about this campaign?

[rabbitwhiskers]

That's a wonderful idea!! I have to think a bit more about it- whether I'm willing to part with a $200.00 dress or not- Are we just supposed to send them whenever or is there a planned date when everyone sends them? Oh I just remembered-= I think I have a dress put away because I didn't like it. I can send that if I can find it. I need to know when to send, though--?

[Former_Member]

Great idea in my opinion.

[Former_Member]

I'd send it ASAP, Feb 10th is just around the corner. ;)I think a lot of us have already sent stuff.

[Former_Member]

I love the idea and the letter, curiousworkmanship!
This is all so terrible. What are we going to do with all the inventory of supplies?

[NotMyTreeStore]

Has anyone mailed items to local tv/radio/print media, along with letters? I'm just wondering what kind of response that would get. I'm putting it on my to-do list this weekend. There are several local media personalities who probably have young daughters and might like a headband, and might be outraged when they realize stuff like that is in danger.

[abracapocus]

This is a great idea. I have to mail some things out this week, I think I'll add a "hazardous" baby bib to my packages.

Jak - mailing to the media is a good idea too.

[chamekke]

Has anyone issued any press releases yet to tell the media about the campaign to mail samples of these suddenly-"hazardous" items as the OP suggested?

The reason I ask is that without adequate publicity, this protest is little more than a gesture that will complicate the working lives of the secretaries of these powerful men. (You can bet it won't be Waxman et al. who will have to personally triage and dispose of all these unwanted parcels.)

With publicity, and I mean TV publicity in particular, it becomes a staggeringly powerful visual argument for exempting small businesses from the CPSIA rules. Then it WILL be worth the time and expense.

Actually, this reminds me of a similar protest campaign {mumble} years ago in Ontario, Canada. The provincial government decided to impose sales tax on tampons, sanitary napkins and so forth, on the hitherto unargued basis that they were non-essentials (!). In protest, outraged women all over the province mailed their (used) tampons to the office of the member of government who was behind the change. Unfortunately, the gambit didn't work - I'm sure the ick factor didn't help - but it certainly garnered a TON of publicity.

[Former_Member]

I'm sending out a giraffe today! Awesome idea!