Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

February 20, 2009

In a severe recession, thrift stores are among the few businesses that flourish. Consumers eager to save every penny will eschew boutiques and shopping malls in favor of second-hand, consignment, and charity-run thrift stores.

Last fall, displaying government?s peculiar genius for making things worse, Congress enacted the so-called Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008. This act is purportedly intended to protect children from trivial amounts of lead in certain products ? including children?s books ? manufactured prior to 1985.

Such products are common in thrift stores, of course. The estimated cost for an individual store to test its goods for compliance is as high as $30,000 ? a potentially crippling financial blow to stores with very low profit margins.

Full enforcement of that act has been deferred for a year. But many chains have already thrown out huge amounts of merchandise, which helps neither them nor consumers. The measure should be repealed immediately.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.