So your're in the kids' ward, You're in there cos you're ill

We really are the leader of the free world!

Some history:

Lead Paint Prompts Mattel to Recall 967,000 Toys
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Mattel issues new massive China toy recall
About 9 million items recalled; danger from magnets and lead paint
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Lead paint forces Thomas toy trains recall
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Halloween costume teeth pulled from US shops due to lead fears

Hmm, I'm starting to sense a pattern. But of course our government agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, will be asking for more labs and investigators to stop this from ever happening again! ... ehhh, not so much:

Strengthening of Consumer Agency Opposed by Its Boss

[...]
On the eve of an important Senate committee meeting to consider the legislation, Nancy A. Nord, the acting chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has asked lawmakers in two letters not to approve the bulk of legislation that would increase the agency’s authority, double its budget and sharply increase its dwindling staff.

Ms. Nord opposes provisions that would increase the maximum penalties for safety violations and make it easier for the government to make public reports of faulty products, protect industry whistleblowers and prosecute executives of companies that willfully violate laws.
[...]
In the last two months alone, more than 13 million toys have been recalled after tests indicated lead levels of almost 200 times the safety ceiling.

BTW:

The Consumer Products Safety Commission was founded in 1973 with a staff of about 800. It now employs about half that number, while the importation of products from other countries has vastly increased.

BTW2:

[The CPSC now] has just one employee testing toys.

13,000,000+ toys recalled ... yep, no reason to have more than one person testing them.

Bastards.


Cross posted at VidiotSpeak