Strengthening of Consumer Agency Opposed by Its Boss »
Posted By Beau7890 1 year, 8 months ago in NewsThe top official for consumer product safety has asked Congress in recent days to reject legislation that would strengthen the agency that polices thousands of consumer goods, from toys to tools.
Read Full Story at nytimes.com »
134 Views Share Story 38 Comments Report
Submitted By:
Beau7890
Truth rests on the mathematical reeds of the infinite and everything moves forward by order of the eagle riding pillion, while the genius of vegetable ...
Other Related Articles:
Why not submit a story?
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentShowing 77 of 86 Comments (view all)
-
0%
Beau78901 year, 8 months ago
This is outrageous.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the safety of consumers, not with protecting business interests. Ms. Nord is NOT the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nor is she the Secretary of Commerce.
Consumer advocates should demand she be replaced immediately.
Reply-
0%
deathray1 year, 8 months ago
The CPSC's charter and activities are antithetical to the policies of the Bush Administration.
This sort of "policital leadership" should come as no surprise...after all, we've seen the undermining of the Justice Department, FEMA, and on, and on, and on though the same kind of leadership activities...
Reply -
-
0%
mesodude1 year, 8 months ago
What better way to foster anti-"big government" sentiment in gullible neocons than to landmine as many federal agencies as possible with lazy, incompetent, and/or willfully negligent weasels like Michael Brown, Nancy Nord, Margaret Spellings, Alberto Gonzales, Jim Nicholson... Well, I think you get the picture.
Reply
-
-
0%
sumptuousdigs1 year, 8 months ago
No surprise here either. The administration is rife with appointees who are determined to dismantle not only government services and bust unions, break treaties, and destroy, civil liberties, they are out to scuttle the government itself. Corporatism is the agenda here. Once the government is useless and bankrupt, GE GM GD Raytheon and a list of others will step in and 'rescue the country'.
Reply-
0%
MRCOFFEECAKE1 year, 8 months ago
There is no surprise that their true bosses are the lobbyists and corporations who hire them to bribe, coerce and dismantle any ostacles that the government may have on behalf of the evil consumer.. It ended with cyclamates, my friends. Since 1977 the FDA, FCC and formerly well intended agencies who were supposed to represent consumer safety can be bought and paid for.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Beau78901 year, 8 months ago
My pleasure. Be sure to check out Ms. Nord's letter to the Senate Commerce Committee. It's a PDF, but only five pages:
http://www.uspirg.org/html/consumer/archives/no...
And this similar story from October 5 about her opposing an earlier version of similar legislation that would make it easier for her agency to disclose potential product hazards:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Endoscopy1 year, 8 months ago
Yes, congress votes themselves raises all the time. Go go for it. Just try and put the brakes on congress.
Reply
-
-
-
-
0%
DarkWizard1 year, 8 months ago
The Moron Minions of the Imposter in Charge no longer surprise me. Bush is running America like Enron and sumptuousdigs is exactly right about the corporations "rescuing America." Unfortunately, it will be an America of their making and their image.
These jokers can't be gone soon enough. America needs some strong leaders to come to the rescue and save America from "sellout" politicians.
Reply -
-
0%
MRCOFFEECAKE1 year, 8 months ago
No just a name change to "bought and paid for protection agency"
Reply
-
-
palamaComment removed: User banned.
-
0%
Charlson1 year, 8 months ago
Let's hope congress gives the agency and the White House a big fat, FU! Let's pass this legislation and show some gumption, democrats and independents.
The safety of our children and the rest of us are more important than the profit line of corporations. The compassionate conservatives? Have not seen much compassion from the republicans but only a willingness to sacrifice american lives for greed and avarice.
Reply -
0%
1-2-Oscar1 year, 8 months ago
With increased authority comes increased responsibility. In an environment where responsibility is avoided at all costs, the costs to the public are always high.
Reply -
0%
Poulenc1 year, 8 months ago
"Through an agency spokesman, Ms. Nord declined to discuss her opposition to the legislation...."
Can something be both astounding AND predictable? My only fear is that congress will once again capitulate to our actually very radical administration.
Here is yet another example of the attempt to make the world a safer place for those who already hold all--or most--of the cards.
Reply -
0%
nostalgia1 year, 8 months ago
This is a failed agency & the recommendations of Congress would only deepen the hole the agency is in
Notice:
"raise staffing levels by about 20%" BUT "staff is about 420"
Do you seriously believe increasing the staff 20% above the current 420 would really get the job done given the massive quantities of goods that are imported??
It would simply give Congress a scapegoat to point to when the inevitable failures occur
We need an entirely new model & these failed agencies need to be shut down
Just an idea - I would really need to look at it in more depth BUT what about something like Underwriters Laboratories
Aren't they an independent, not-for-profit safety certification organization?
AND why should taxpayers fund this?
Shouldn't companies that import be required to pay for the testing - they are the ones making a profit by using cheap overseas labor?
How many Federal agencies are in bed with the idustries they regulate - mining, trucking, drugs etc
Reply-
0%
crespi1 year, 8 months ago
Who will "require" the companies to test?
Corporate Republicans?
Get the Federal agencies out of bed with the NEOCONS and maybe they will do their job again.
Reply
-
-
0%
texangelwings1 year, 8 months ago
Wonder what the Boss's job description requires? There has been too much cutting back on quality inspections for a long time! With less inspection, the more it saves money for companies!
I agree with Amazing1, it is long past due, for a tea party!
If they are so opposed to strengthening the agency, then why have they asked for a large increase in their budget?
Fire all of them and hire some people who want to do a quality job and protect the American People!
Thanks Beau, great find!
Reply -
-
0%
Endoscopy1 year, 8 months ago
Wow. Are the libs out in force. Of course the NYT is an objective newspaper.
Liberals believe that the government is the solution for everything. Pass more laws, make a bigger bureaucracy, spend more money, etc. This means raised taxes.
I lived in Michigan in the 80's. The long time Democrat governor was stepping down. He looked back over all the regulations he helped put in place. He said that while he could argue for each individual regulation the total impact was killing businesses. for example, potato chip companies in the Detroit area went from over 30 a few years before I moved there to 2 just before I left.
Liberals tend to not look an unintended consequences. There is a problem, pass a law, uh oh we didn't intend that when it is too late. This person is arguing just that point. She is looking at what the consequences would probably be. Of course liberals don't want to hear that.
Reply-
0%
crespi1 year, 8 months ago
So you're saying "screw the consumer" (AND their children) is "just doing business"?
You're blaming liberals for policies of Ultra-Conservative, Christian, Corporate multi-nationals who support EVERY ONE of Bush's disasterous policies?
Neocon Playbook: Break the American military, then ruin the American people.
It ain't Liberals this time, bud. It's fascists.
Reply -
0%
hamy1 year, 8 months ago
Umm...if Bush is a liberal, then your statement is true. He passed tons of legislation to fix his own problems. Gave himself immunity. Gave Blackwater and the rest of the hired mercenaries immunity. Gave himself the power to declare martial law. Gave himself the ability to declare war without congress. Gave himself the ability to avoid any investigation into his practices with the "executive order" power grab.
Seems like he is one of those liberals you have been blabbing on about.
Reply -
0%
MRCOFFEECAKE1 year, 8 months ago
Don't you ever get tired of defending people who are clearly not "for the people"??
Endo is right, that the Democrats are too lazy to request funds for more enforcement and testing but the Republicans are too willing to use that as an excuse to protect us even less in order to protect unsavory businesses.
How can ANYONE defend a "Consumer" protection agency who is clearly not protecting us and who claims they're doing just fine, despite all that we are experiencing (all-time record recalls AFTER numerous deaths) and don't need to work for more scrutiny??Who is supposed to demand justice..the dead kids??
or their grieving parents?
Why MUST we only choose between ONE extreme (no legal ramifications and virtually NO enforcement due to a lack of funding, OR overfundning litigious mentalities and continung to underfund protection due to testing??
Lazy liberals vs. selfish conservatives.
WE LOSE EITHER WAY!! Don't we?
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Poulenc1 year, 8 months ago
Endoscopy, above, my whole point was to apply a word--radical--traditionally associated with the far left to the neocons--in any case, implying that the views of same are extremist.
Reply -
-
-
0%
joeblowe1 year, 8 months ago
This is nearly unbelievable, One area the Constitution DOES allow the government to monitor - "To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes" =- foreign trade - and the silly b!tch DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT? Yeah, I know, Consumer Safety isn't really all about foreign trade, but lately it sure seems like a large part of it. NOT wanting more money and more staff? I can't believe I'm even hearing of such a thing. Ridiculous!
Reply-
0%
joeblowe1 year, 8 months ago
(Oops, blew the 5 minute limit)
OK,OK - I'm also in favor of minimizing government, but there ARE some things the Federal government NEEDS to do. Like regulate the safety of consumer products that are sold/bought/moved over state lines and or to/from foreign markets.
This looks like some daffy broad that just wants to have a nice title, sit in a big office, and DO NOTHING! After all, the less she is responsible for, the less she can be blamed for when she fails to do it. I hate to say it, but I guess we need to get Ralph on the job here. (Ralph Nader - for you youngsters that don't remember the Pinto... {;>D)=)
Reply
-
-
0%
getreal11 year, 8 months ago
Since the people that are paid way past their means of productivity can not do their job, that calls for dismissal and termination. In other words they are Fired. They should also be investigated for accepting hush money on the side. How else would all those harmful products get into our nation?
Reply -
0%
hyperbola1 year, 8 months ago
The Enron fiasco was a direct result of GOP legislation "de-regulating" business in the 1990s. The crippling of government regulatory agencies has been GOP practice ever since Reagan. You cannot expect the bush regime to be any different, after all most of the bush brothers, including george, got rich by excploiting the "deregulation" of S&Ls during the Reagan admin. Cost the taxpayers $100s of billions already then.
Bush's Role in Corporate Fraud
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/ethicalp...
Reply -
0%
getreal11 year, 8 months ago
I'm well aware of that. Thanks for the reminding. They should have been thrown into jail with the one they said was responsible. Now that they are rich enough from defrauding us and probable cause is there, I see no reason not to petition the attorney General to do his job and attach their assets.
Reply -
0%
mesodude1 year, 8 months ago
"I have no intention of resigning."
And I have a feeling she's going to soon regret she said that. The GOP doesn't seem to get that Americans really don't like it people screw around with their kids.
Reply -
0%
mesodude1 year, 8 months ago
"I have no intention of resigning."
And I have a feeling she's going to soon regret she said that. The GOP doesn't seem to get that Americans really don't like it whenpeople screw around with their kids.
Reply
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.