Subtle Rantings

In typical common sense is dead fashion, a new federal law could outlaw all sales of used toys, clothing and other baby items. The new law mandates that all products sold for children ages 12 and younger must be tested for lead and other harmful chemicals.

What does this mean? From an LA Times article:

Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children’s clothing.

Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater! In this economic downturn, now is the time to be penalizing the cash strapped lower and middle class by getting rid of thrift store bargains?

Another perspective is what this does for consignment shops and handmade goods dealers like Etsy. This new law could completely shut down Etsy, who has been serving as an eBay type of marketplace for handmade goods. Which brings up another question: where did this law originate? Is it simply consumer protection gone awry? Or is there a little more to it?

With the recent news of eBay’s former president and CEO Meg Whitman preparing to run for governor in California, could she in some way have used her political ties to introduce and push legislative approval for this law? You might ask what’s the incentive or motivation for her to do this? Simple, eliminate the competition. Etsy and other online marketplaces are popping up left and right which are taking customers and revenue away from eBay daily. Conspiracy theory? Most likely, but still worth noting.

On the other hand, barring the prohibition of handmade “non-certified” goods, couldn’t consignment sales keep selling clothes that were already certified? Once a piece of clothing is certified, it’s always certified right? There still exists the major issue though that this will literally shutter tons of mom and pop shops who make handmade custom goods who can’t afford the cost prohibitive certification testing. Talk about killing capitalism and the pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality. Oh well, that actually goes well with the mentality of the new administration that’s coming into office on January 20th.

For more information see the following links:

LA Times - New safety rules for children’s clothes have stores in a fit
Baby Cheapskate - End of Second Hand Clothing and Toys?
Simple Dollar

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My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary.

Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsening his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their spoiled and self-important children. It declined even further when schools were required to get written parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a Band-Aid to students, but were restricted from informing parents when their child became pregnant and skipped class to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, schools were forbidden to fail students who couldn’t read and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a severe beating when home owners were forbidden from using force against an attacker in their own home but the burglar was legally allowed to sue a home owner if he was injured on their property during the commission of the crime. NOTE: Has been “fixed” in Texas.

Common Sense finally died after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was actually hot and, when spilled in her lap while she was trying to drink and drive at the same time, was burned and promptly awarded a huge financial settlement in court.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

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This quote from a founder of a company that partnered with Washington Mutual. If you don’t know WaMu was one of the failed banks that you’ll find on the FDIC Failed Bank List.

“It was the Wild West. If you were alive, they would give you a loan. Actually, I think if you were dead, they would still give you a loan.” - Steven M. Knobel, a founder of the appraisal company Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson, that did business with Washington Mutual (WaMu) until 2007, as quoted by The New York Times

They assumed the risk by making shady/greedy lending moves to risky people. That was stupid. That was a mistake driven by greed. Let them fail. It’s called personal accountability and responsibility.

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Another quote from Ron Paul clearly indicating he understands what the Founder’s intended when they laid the framework for this great country:

“The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.” - Congressman Ron Paul, 1987

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In other example of complete government bureaucracy and inefficiency, staff at the New York Daily News effectively “stole” the Empire State building in 90 minutes.

The New York Daily News drew up fake documents, created a bogus notary stamp and filed paperwork with the city and successfully took ownership of the $2 billion property on Monday.

It seems the clerks of New York City aren’t required to actually verify any information when certain requests are made. Just 90 minutes after first walking in the door, the newspaper managed to get the Empire State building transferred from the Empire State Land Associates to it’s fake company, Neolots Properties, LLC.

One quote from the newspaper states that “Of course, stealing the Empire State Building wouldn’t go unnoticed for long, but it shows how easy it is for con artists to swipe more modest buildings right out from under their owners.”

Source: Fox News

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This little “joke” made it’s way around the Internet prior to the election. I just found it in one of my old emails. Either this is reality to come, or it’s just a partisan joke. Take it for what you like.

Dear Fellow Business Owners

As a Business owner who employs 30 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama, will be our next President, and that my Taxes and Fees, will go up in a BIG way.

To compensate for these increases, I figure, that the Customer, will have to see an increase in my fees to them of about 8%. I will also have to lay off 6 of my employees. This really bothered me as I believe we are family here and didn’t know how to choose who will have to go. So, this is what I did. I strolled through the parking lot and found 6 Obama bumper stickers on my employees’ cars. I have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off.

I can’t think of another fair way to approach this problem. If you have a better idea, let me know.
I am sending this letter to all Business owners that I know.

Sincerely,
Ward
JOOA Corp.

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“Let them fail; let everybody fail! I made my fortune when I had nothing to start with, by myself and my own ideas. Let other people do the same thing. If I lose everything in the collapse of our financial structure, I will start in at the beginning and build it up again.” - Henry Ford. February 11, 1934

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“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”- Thomas Jefferson

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Little did I know when I wrote this post about Obama two years ago, how right I would be about America being so desperate and searching for something that they would elect Barack Obama. Like I said then, and I say now, it’s easy to see why people like him. He makes amazing promises, he dresses sharp, he’s black, and he’s a great orator.

The problem? He can’t fulfill all those promises he’s made, looks are only skin deep, a person doesn’t deserve to be elected just because no one of his race has ever been elected, and speaking skills do not a President make.

Anyway, take a read of my first post about Obama from two years ago as we prepare to start this new journey - good or bad.

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via Neal Boortz @ http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

CHANGES IN THE WORKPLACE

You small business owners out there are preparing for life under a Barack Obama presidency. One of our listeners sent us some new rules for small businesses based on Obama’s ideals of change and fairness:

As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama officially becomes president-elect, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness:

If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to rethink your vote on November 4th.

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