Wooden Toys / Government Regulation

[DavidOH]

I just got this message in one of the Wood newsletters I subscribe to. I was wondering if anyone else heard about this:

"Topsy-Turvy *
Knaves in Toyland: from WoodNet

"I was just alerted that a new law was enacted August of this year. This law is called The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and effects ALL products manufactured for sale and intended for use by those age 12 and under. All toys must meet strict testing requirements for lead and phthalates. All tested products must also carry a label certifying that the toy meets the CPSIA testing guidelines with a date and batch code. These requirements go into effect in February 2009. More information can be found at The Handmade Toy Alliance website. "

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wwj/index.cfm/free.websurferreview

[FloridaWyld]

The CPSIA affects all products for those 12 and under- including books (libraries are under attack), thrift stores (no more 2nd hand clothing or nursery items), etc. It is a HUGE disservice to the American people and is being followed by the FDA Globalization Act- which attacks handmade bath and beauty products as well as food products. The sum of these two acts is that nearly every small business in this country that manufactures a product will be shut down under an unfair burden of fees.

[DavidOH]

That's the way I saw it. You can't even give away a hand made sweater to your neighbor's child without the Government stepping in between you to regulate you,
....and tax (attack) you for it.

No small business without government intervention.
Not even a hobby shop.

[DavidOH]

A second news letter sent me a blog post concerning this subject:

Criminal craftsmen and outlawed toys
Posted by Lucas Peters @ WOOD at 1/22/2009 4:26 PM CST

"For lead content, the new rules go into effect February 10, 2009."

http://tinyurl.com/dyrxoj

[Kyhome]

I stopped at the SA store yesterday afternoon and they had all children clothes 10 for a dollar. Judy the lady who is store manager told me her manager had all the local area stores doing the same thing as they think they are going to be told they cannot sell the donated clothing without testing. they stopped selling all toys about 6 or 7 months ago. toys all go right into the dumpster after they are donated. down right crazy.

[Chet53]

We have too much government in our everyday life...................most of our elected leaders make politics a lifelong career. The best thing that could happen in America today is for the people of this country to insist on term limits for all of our elected officials.

[Saoirse]

This makes me so angry that I cannot even see straight. How dare they do this?
Supposedly there was a temporary "stay" put on portions of the law, but I do not know which portions.

http://www.looktruenorth.com/limited-government/legislation/6360-used-clothing-and-other-hazards.html

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85542

[Av8rTx]

We have too much government in our everyday life...................most of our elected leaders make politics a lifelong career. The best thing that could happen in America today is for the people of this country to insist on term limits for all of our elected officials.

A two term limit is a good idea, 1 in office and 1 in prison.

[Jawbone]

A two term limit is a good idea, 1 in office and 1 in prison.



That is the best idea that I have heard in a long time.

[Junie]

A two term limit is a good idea, 1 in office and 1 in prison.
Then we'd still be supporting them.

[sewserious]

Then we'd still be supporting them.

Not if we put Sheriff Joe's ideas to work! Make it hard in prision like it used to be!

[Thumper]

We've already got term limits. They're called "lead pills". The only question is when we'll get fed up enough to start high-velocity/high-volume discreet distribution.

[Junie]

Not if we put Sheriff Joe's ideas to work! Make it hard in prision like it used to be!
A length of rope would still be cheaper.

[Mesquite_Bean]

they think they are going to be told they cannot sell the donated clothing without testing. they stopped selling all toys about 6 or 7 months ago. toys all go right into the dumpster after they are donated. down right crazy.

Hmm, that's interesting especially with all the save the earth/enviroment brouhaha.

[MotherCharlotte]

This thread was started about wooden toys--it is my understanding that wooden toys are exempt from this new law, as long as they are unfinished (i.e. no paint or stain).

Thank God we don't have to worry about this. My husband sells wooden toys, but we live in Canada. But, of course it's only a matter of time before our government jumps on the bandwagon too. They're pretty good at overstepping their bounds.

[CarolAnn]

We actually don't have to worry about it just yet here in the US - for about another year, and then whether it will apply to individuals making toys for small scale sale is still in question.

The thing that disturbs me in this thread is that we are too willing to jump to conclusions without digging into the subject. (Me included) But talk of "lead pills" and lynching rope as a solution to disagreement with the government is an extreme I'm disappointed to see in this forum - even in jest, if it was. Even as an expression of frustration with growing government messing in our daily lives.

20 years ago I had a Farmer's Home Administration loan on my place in Arkansas. I was struggling with paying the 13.25% interest with my minimum wage jobs. (I had three part-time jobs at the time, to try to keep from loosing my place.) I was taking a class to try to get better pay, and had just received a threatening letter from the local FmHA horse's behind-supervisor. In a rage, I said, "I'll blow my house up before I let them #$%2# take it." I hadn't heard the news about the Oklahoma City bomb that day, so I didn't understand the sudden silence my angry words caused.

I had no intention of blowing anything up. I had no intention of doing anything but bitching about an unreasonable government jerk that I was having to deal with. But it did teach me a very valuable lesson about shooting (off my mouth.) I was extremely ashamed of those words the more I heard about the many people, including children, that were murdered that day.

This thread is about TOYS. Not even food or shelter, that we need for survival. We need to stand up when the government pokes too far into our lives. Write letters. Make calls. VOTE.

But lets try not to take verbal shortcuts to make a point - because they can come back and sting more than you can know . . . until they do.

[keydl]

Rather than term limits - how about check limits, 12 years of government checks and they stop writing checks. Somebody wants to keep working for free might be suspect.

[Anon001]

This is not the political forum. The OP posted about wooden toys.

Paul

[ciopartelu]

PS I tried to google it, but no success :)There are a lot of sites. When you "google" do it as "wooden doll house"plans with the quotes and placing and you will see a lot of sites. You may have to weed through them to find plans that are free.

Paul

Oops... I thought I clicked on "quote" but I guess I clicked on "edit". sorry.