The Very Definition of Asinine

"Starting Feb[ruary] 10, retailers across the country may only sell products--new or used--for children 12 and younger that meet new standards for levels of lead and of phthalates, chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. All children's items, even those already in stores, will have to be tested and shown to comply or be thrown away."

Oh yeah, hooray for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Just take a moment, Gentle Reader, and this of the massive impact these new rules could have. Bid farewell to buying used kiddie clothes, toys and accoutrements at Goodwill, Salvation Army and other thrift stores and resale shops. Say farewell to such items on eBay, Craigslist--and perhaps even at the local flea markets and garage sales.

And if you're a toy collector the way the husband is? Ooh, this could be very painful since it would be seemingly illegal for him to buy a ratty old Chewbacca plush doll circa 1977 at a sci-fi convention. (Good thing we did that waaay back at the turn of the century. Oh! how I love that ratty Chewie!)

What if this law applies to books? Half-Price Books would have large, relatively empty sections in its stores.

If you haven't had your daily dose of outrage yet, Gentle Reader, check out the Austin-American Satan's story, or enjoy (if you can parse it--I had difficulty because it's so poorly written) the story from the local ABC affiliate, which is accompanied by a news segment. Or just go look up "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008" on Google and see what you get.

Afterwards, take a moment to consider the sheer waste this law could engender. Consider how much higher the price of kids' clothes, toys and other items could be now that they all have to be tested.

Yeah, got yer mind boggled real good, didn't ya, Gentle Reader?

Asinine, I tell you. Asinine.

UPDATE
After kvetching about this situation with my good friend Alicia, she tracked down this PR the Consumer Product Safety Commission wisely issued today:

CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children’s Product Safety Laws Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children’s Products, Thrift and Consignment Stores

Hmm, was the poor widdle CPSC feeling a widdle bit of heat over its inability to respond to inquiries about this asinine law? Did the poor widdle CPSC realize what a major blunder it had on its widdle hands?

The whole thing's still asinine.