Sometimes I Wonder How I Survived Childhood

Ken's Blog

The degree of government regulation is one of the problems stifling America and so many other countries. Some of it, like the upcoming "HR 4040" legislation in the U.S., starts with a kernel of good intention (protecting children) but soon falls terribly on the wrong side of the 99.999/0.001 coin.

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The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
of 2008, which goes into effect February 10, 2009,
mandates that all items sold for use by children
under 12 must be tested by an independent party
for lead and phthalates.

All untested items, regardless of lead
content, are to be declared banned hazardous
products.
-----SIDEBAR-----

Sheesh! Sometimes I wonder how I survived childhood. No seat belts. No lead testing. No helmet while riding a bike. I'm a living miracle. Hey, come to think of it, so are you!

OK, seriously...

The fact is you simply can't protect everyone from everything, all of the time. Nor should government try. Should we all wear helmets while walking outdoors (head trauma being a leading cause of death in accidents)? That would make more sense than this ridiculous law. And believe me... neither makes much sense in the real world.

The right side of the 99.999/0.001 coin is to require testing by the mass manufacturers/marketers and make sure that small retailers/crafters, etc., know about the liability issues of selling children's products. Make them responsible, but...

Don't subject them to onerous testing expenses for very limited benefit.

Your only option as a small business owner? Protest vigorously and petition. The noisier you get, the more politicians are likely to see the light. Not because they care, but because they don't like light.

Your only "other" option, of course, is to go digital and explore other monetization options. At the end of the day, if the government wants to ignore vigorous and reasonable protest, you owe it to yourself to take care of yourself and earn income in other ways.

Within a generation, knowledge e-workers will vote far more quietly... by leaving for countries that are more in tune with how they want to live. If you don't like the policies and practices of a country, leave. It's not really "your" country. You are their citizen, to be ruled and plundered. But not for much longer.

Countries will be considered by e-workers as "products." Don't like the product? Leave for a better one. That kind of voting (with your feet, by leaving) will be hard to ignore. It will cause more change than you could imagine.

Right now, though, in today's world...

Protest the law. It's likely to be changed. And if it's not, it's unlikely to be enforced. If your comfort level doesn't allow you to continue (you will never be fined $100,000, you would only get a warning for a first offense), then "go digital."

I could ramble forever about governments. And I used to tilt at their windmills (had some very public fights as a young doctor). But I'd rather just live my life the way I want to, do my thing, and stay out of their way. I recommend the same for you...

It's much better for your blood pressure.

All the best,