Change.org

 

Ideas Home
»
Save Small Business from the CPSIA
»
Suggestions

Suggestions for Action

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

You can also comment on and rank the suggestions submitted by others.

  1. Crystal Ellis

    the way I understand it, the way this law was originally written stated that all IMPORTED goods for children 0-12 would have to be tested and then the CPSIA came in and changed it to EVERYTHING has to be tested.  Since it was the imported goods causing the problems...why not start there.  I see no reason to "fix" what is not broken...and "made in america" goods are not in questions here.

    Suggested by Crystal Ellis on 01/17/2009 @ 09:14PM PT

  2. Richard Brodie

    "This is America, the land of the free, not a communist country."

    True, as of now it is not. But it will be after next Tuesday.

    It is naive to think that the incoming Marxist administration will ever disavow this kind of legislation.

    Fortunately CPSIA is one of those laws which it is financially impossible for the government to ever be able to enforce universally.

    Therefore those people who will only be able to survive by ignoring it, will simply have to do so.

    Think of it as the 21st century's equivalent of throwing tea in the harbor!

    Suggested by Richard Brodie on 01/17/2009 @ 09:07PM PT

  3. Elaine Biss

    I think this video sums it up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1RwPvIt7mA

    Suggested by Elaine Biss on 01/17/2009 @ 07:27PM PT

  4. nicole curry


    Allow home crafters to "opt out," to specifically state that their products haven't been certified lead-free by independent third-party labs.

    Exempt all "limted edition" batches of, say, 100 or less.

    Suggested by nicole curry on 01/17/2009 @ 06:33PM PT

  5. F DN

    Small business isn't 500 or less anymore. In my life, small business is me, crafting from home, making milk and gas money for my family along side of my other J.O.B..

    This knee jerk law, if passed, will hurt more than anyone expected. Why are the little guys, once again, having to be held to standards that they can't possibly afford or live up to? Why is it that this solution is so sweeping and the little person is being wiped out, when in fact it's not the little guy that brought the lead IN in the first place?

    Please take the time to re-evaluate the terms of this law and make it more reasonable for the single crafter working from home. Otherwise, many will have to close their single person cottage businesses.

    Suggested by F DN on 01/17/2009 @ 02:08PM PT

  6. Michael Carter

    It seems to me that a regulation that apparently requires a freightcar full of exceptions, exemptions, re-definitions, and general "what we MEANT to say was.." statements needs to be reworked from title page on down.

    It also seems that implementation of this well-intentioned document needs to be delayed until the obvious wrinkles can be ironed out. Better yet, have the intestinal fortitude to repeal the act and take it back to the drawing board.

    There are no easy fixes with this level of regulational obscurity. We cannot simply say "U.S. products only," for we do not make every component of every item, nor do we grow every ingredient.

    I make small harps, among other things, and I do buy strings, tuning pegs, and other items from U.S. sources, but I have no idea who made the things in the first place. In that, I rely on my supplier's word.

    I don't make batches of harps, I make individual instruments. Under the current wording, I have the responsibility to submit each instrument for testing. In an average year, I make perhaps a hundred instruments, and a number of toys and percussion instruments. Even if testing did not destroy the item being tested, the cost of that testing is close to triple what I make. I love what I do, and I would do it for free if I could afford it, but paying an amount roughly equivalent to my USAF retirement pay in addition is just not possible.

    If I were the only person thus affected, I would simply look for something else to make. But I am not alone. Walk into a local craft show and you'll find that at least 90 percent of the tables and booths will not be there after 10 February. Only the franchisees of large import companies will be able to pay for testing. I somehow doubt this was the intent of the law.

    Suggested by Michael Carter on 01/17/2009 @ 01:41PM PT

  7. Deb Stahl

    Alternatives:

    STOP this law. Don't make it effective until at least half the kinks have been ironed out. (said with tongue firmly in cheek)

    Allow small and micro-manufacturers to "opt out," to specifically state that their products haven't been certified lead-free by independent third-party labs.

    Exempt super-small batches of, say, 100 or less, which is akin to one-of-a-kind in manufacturing terms.

    Give vouchers to small businesses for the cost of testing and labeling.

    For crying out loud, CLARIFY. RESPOND to people who have all these questions, and don't insult them by calling them "mommybloggers" and making it sound like another not-nice word that starts with "mother." :-(

    How come WE can think of stuff like this and the people in charge of MAKING and ENFORCING the law CAN'T?!?!

    Suggested by Deb Stahl on 01/17/2009 @ 11:55AM PT

  8. Marija Mikolajczak

    I don't think there is time to develop a campaign on this issue.  This law is going into effect in three weeks.  I think that some immediate actions need to be taken from the top-down ASAP.   We need clarifications and we need exemptions for regular (non-toy) clothing including cloth diapers, for one-of-a-kinds, for items made of wood and natural (unprinted) cloth, etc.  and anything else that common sense would indicate should not be covered by the law.
    If necessary, then a postponement in the law should be passed, enabling more time for a campaign.  In that case, I think the most effective would be video and print campaign focusing on the personal stories of the families that will be impacted, and the devastating impact on small businesses in communities across the nation during this economic crisis. 

    Suggested by Marija Mikolajczak on 01/17/2009 @ 10:13AM PT

  9. M R

    It is in the best interest of this country's economy that the CPSC immediately suspend plans to enforce the current incarnation of the CPSIA until it can be revised to focus on imported goods and include provisions for exclusing obviously safe products and materials.
    When a piece of legislation causes this type of widespread panic, it should blatantly obvious that there is something wrong with it. It should also be painfully obvious that the process that allowed a law that is so dangerous to the livlihood of thousands of Americans to come to pass is also fatally flawed.
    We rely on our gonvernment to work in our best interests. To that end, there should never be a piece of legislation railroaded through the process because of a knee jerk reaction. Hasty lawmaking can and, in this case, destroy the lives of entire families and entire industries. This is OBVIOUSLY not in anyone's best interest.

    Suggested by M R on 01/17/2009 @ 07:18AM PT

  10. Vivian Zabel

    The CPSIA needs to be halted until it can be rewritten to address the real problem and in such a way that it is intelligent and well researched.

    Items that have little or no lead to start with, such as books and other merchandise made of components already tested, should not be required to be tested.

    Congress needs to read bills and understand their impact before passing.

    The media needs to do more than perhaps writing a small, isolated article. As stated above, the media needs to show the impact on everyday people: favorite ideas for children not available, stores closed, impact on schools and libraries, availability of books curtailed and the cost increased dramatically.

    President-elect Obama should as President stop this bill immediately before irreversible harm is done.

    Suggested by Vivian Zabel on 01/17/2009 @ 05:44AM PT

Write a Suggestion

If you would like to leave a suggestion please sign in, or create an account

Endorsements for this Idea

Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support. 482 current endorsements:


Endorse this Idea!

Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support by completing the form below. If you represent a nonprofit, using an official organizational email address (e.g. "john@greenpeace.org" for Greenpeace) will expedite the process of confirming your organization's endorsement.

Nonprofit or Blogger?     
 
Name of Nonprofit / Blog
 
URL
 
Your First Name
 
Your Last Name
 
Your Email
 
close

This user's Profile page is not public. They have restricted it to only their friends.

Already a Member?

Create an Account

You must create a Change.org account to complete this action.
If you already have an account click here.