Consumer Product Safety Commission can't recall unsafe products! Kazuma Pacific All-Terrain vehicle

[candice]

David Lazarus in the S.F. Chronicle of today tells us that because Bu$hCo hasn't appointed someone for the position of the third chair for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a safety hazard for kids--an all-terrain vehicle imported from China cannot be recalled. Bush's failure to fill a vacancy on the commission means that it is "unable to levy fines or force a recall."

Paraphrased:

A Texas company (Kazuma Pacific) is importing a defective all-terrain vehicle from China for kids and the company has refused to cooperate in voluntarily pulling the product from the market.

Without a quorum--all three commissioners-- the Consumer Product Safety Commission cannot take action. The company is "recalcitrant" and "failing to meet its obligations to safety," acknowledged a spokesman for the Commission. Because of the Commission's lack of a quorum, it can't issue fines or force a recall.

"The Commission has been without a full three members since July 2006 when Hal Stratton, who was appointed chairman by Bush in 2002, left to take a job with a law firm that specializes in shooting down class-action lawsuits filed by consumers. According to the Consumer Product Safety Act, two commissioners can conduct business for six months after a third quits. After that, they are restricted from taking action of regulatory matters or civil penalties until the vacancy is filled."

"The six month mark was January 15. In March, Bush nominated Michael Baroody, a top manufacturing-industry lobbyist, to serve as chairman and thus oversee regulation of the business that for years provided him with a livelihood."

"In May, Baroody withdrew from consideration one day before the Senate confirmation hearing. He'd been asked by Senators to provide copies of his severance agreement with the National Association of Manufacturers."

Bush may leave the office empty during the remainder of his "presidency."

Me: This is classic Bu$hCo--the previous appointee joins a lobby that guts the public interest that the appointee was supposed to protect, and the replacement has corporate interests foremost. In this case, consumer safety protection can be removed by not making an appointment. Tell me again, Ralph Nadar, is there no difference between Gore and Bu$h?

[pnwmom]

1. You're right. One more way Nader's actions undermined his professed goals.

In 2000, he knew he was lying when he said there was no difference between the candidates, but somewhere along the line he stopped being the idealist he once was, and he's turned into what he hated the most -- someone who will do anything to increase his power.

When evaluating Nader, it's important to pay attention to his actions -- what he actually accomplishes (such as helping to defeat Gore) -- as opposed to what he SAYS (he sounds like a progressive). His actions speak much louder than his words.

[jojo54]

2. "Bu$hco hasn't appointed someone for the position of the 3rd chair...

BUT, he did find time to form an import safety panel: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2921821


Bwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa. What a backwards idiot!!

[candice]

3. Excellent point. Another czar needed for our Potemkin republic

"We have the best government money can buy," Gore Vidal.