Lead testing kits are now available for home use on toys etc.

[underpants]

Why am I supposed to make sure that MATTEL et al don't put THEIR NAME on HARMFUL PRODUCTS???? :grr:

I heard this this morning on the local news and it just pissed me off.

What in the hell?!?! Are WE now the only ones who can keep the threats outside our own doors? Didn't I already PAY TAXES for this to be done? Are we all now so "collectively" ;-) worried about THEIR BOTTOM LINE that we are willing to give them a pass on DOING THEIR JOB!??!? Who has the resources to effect this change-ME or the toy manufacturers with their suppliers???

Capitalism my white ass this isn't capitalism this is protecting the malfunctioning mousetrap.

Oh then there is this:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission calls the kits unreliable, but Consumer Reports has reached a different conclusion
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16034266

Of course the Chair of the Consumer Products Safety Commission is more worried about how much it will cost the manufacturers than about anything else.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/30/AR2007103002228.html?hpid=sec-business
On a side note-When have you ever heard of someone NOT trying to expand their reach and power? :shrug: Oh that's right when they are in the practice of destroying the whole operation as a matter of ideology.

[meegbear]

1. They should be giving those away for free

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Let Me Guess - The Kits Are Made In China?

Oy vey!

[madokie]

3. I read the other day that the lead test kits weren't to be trusted

I shit you not :rofl:

[LeftCoast]

4. A couple of years ago we got a home lead test kit

We wanted to see if some old china from the 1930s was safe. Turns out it's fine, but our Mexican style chip bowl set from Crate and Barrel was loaded with lead. We just tested it by chance, too.

[SoCalDem]

5. Be careful , people.. those kits are not always reliable

If I had small kids,I think I would just remove most of their toys from the toy box, and try to keep them away from tv commercials..

remember this too,, If your kid is in daycare, they have toys there too and not only lead but the germs of other kids are all over those toys :) It ain't easy being a kid these days :(

[underpants]

6. I know. We are buying Made in the USA

littletikes.com well at least it appears to be made in the good old USA

[SoCalDem]

10. make sure the components are also made in the US

If they buy fabric from China and dress the teddy bear in it, ..:eyes:

Having a kid makes you more aware of thse things, doesn't it..

Y'know, MY kids stuff might have had lead paint on them too, but they were past the toy stage when everyone started reporting on it so who knows.. parents just have to worry about stuff. it;s our main job :)

[spanone]

7. thank goodness our govt. is watching out for our kids

:sarcasm:

[AspenRose]

8. It's been posted before but it bears repeating

http://www.chinafreechristmas.info/

Here's wishing for a lead-free holiday season for the kids.

[underpants]

9. Excellent

thanks

[KittyWampus]

11. Evel Knievel Deluxe Dare Devil Stunt Set? Are these left overs from the 70's?

Is Evel Kneivel still alive? Do kids know who he was?

But thanks for the link. Hope parents find it.

[AspenRose]

14. Parents reliving their childhoods....

If you go to the Amazon page you'll see "I loved playing with Evel as a kid and wanted to introduce these to my kids...." in the reviews.

(You'll also see the toy got :thumbsdown: reviews!)

[underpants]

16. The ebay commercial

one of the really funny "Shop Victoriously" ebay ads features a bunch of people looking for and Evil Knievel lunchbox in the woods.

To this day I am surprised that adult coloring hasn't become a "thing" (what with the rise of dodgeball and kickball)

[KittyWampus]

21. Ohhhhhhhhhhh! Makes perfect sense.

[EnviroBat]

18. Awesome, thanks!

[KittyWampus]

12. So we're supposed to BUY the toy first and then test it and maybe dispose of it?

BTW, how are we supposed to dispose of toxic toys? Just bring to landfill, I guess.

[SoCalDem]

13. Give them to kids you don't like?

:rofl:

[underpants]

15. Um ...uh

Yeah I don't think they thought that part of it out either.

I should have thought of that too. I was so pissed off I wasn't thinking straight. Yep it works blind with rage is still blind.

[EnviroBat]

17. Here, I've got a free litmus test for you,

and it doesn't involve any scientific kits or technical analysis. the next time you pick up a product at the store, look for this:

MADE IN CHINA

When you see that label, simply throw the poisonous, lead-based, slave labour produced, economically disasterous peice of shit right back on the shelf! We have decided to have a "No China" Christmas this year. I hope others will follow our lead. We have decided to exchange just a few gifts with friends and family with the caveat that none of the items are manufactured in China. It's like saying "here, I actually put some thought into this gift..." It's time to send a message to the Corporato-Fascist retail machine that we've had enough of the free-trade bullshit that has fucked our economy so badly, we may never recover. I hope the retailers have a miserable fucking year. To all the Targets, WalMarts, JCPenny's etc... F You!

[underpants]

19. Take it to customer service

*THIS* is not a bad idea

Take MADE IN CHINE toys (at leat)to customer service and ask if they have anything made in the USA. If they don't just leave it and make them put it back.

[EnviroBat]

20. I did that exact thing just last weekend at a Home DePot store.

I actually thought for a second that they were going to call security on me. I walked up to the customer service desk and ask for a gardening tool, not made in China. The woman at the counter looked almost shocked, as did the line of people waiting behind me. I put the item on the counter and walked away while making sheep noises... Baaaah Baaaah