The Island of Misfit Toy Testers

All these toy recalls are make my head hurt.  You'd think I've been sucking on some Aquadots or something.  It's making my head hurt, because once again, George Bush's cronyism and inability to hire competent people at the highest levels of government is coming back to bite us.  This time, it's not us exactly, it's our kids.

Nancy Nord is the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an agency that is supposed to be monitoring imported products and "saving lives and keeping families safe."  She's been offered additional funding by Congress to hire more inspectors (currently, there's only one).  She said, "No thanks."  I first got notice of this from an e-mail from Mom's Rising a few days ago. 

The MomsRising e-mail noted that their reaction was "You've got to be kidding me," when they heard about this, which was my reaction as well.  As a manager, if someone offered me money to hire additional staff, I'd take it in a New York minute.  Why on earth would she turn down something like this, especially right before Christmas, when toys from all over the world will be flooding the stores?

According to the Associated Press, Nancy didn't like a couple of things about the appropriations bill, including extending protections to whistleblowers and making it easier for the government to make reports of faulty products public.  So, basically, she's covering her ass against complaints from the toy industry, and at the same time, turning down funding that would provide additional inspectors to protect our children.

Nancy was a lawyer for Eastman Kodak before going to work in government.  I have also been a corporate lawyer, so I know when you work for a company, you have to take their side.  It's your job to keep them out of trouble.  I have no problem with that.  When you take a job regulating what businesses can or can't do, you hold the public's interest first and foremost.  That's your job, no matter what your politics or your former ties are.

After taking office, Nancy has taken the side of the toy companies, gotten some consulting gigs, and taken trips on their dime.   She says it's their responsibility to regulate and test the toys, not hers.  If she doesn't want to do her job, perhaps she should be replaced by someone who will. 

My son is beyond the toy-tasting age, so I don't think he's at a particular risk of ingesting lead.  We do, however, have a garage full of old baby toys that I'm afraid to give to Goodwill for fear of poisoning someone else's child.  That means the toys go to the landfill, and the runoff goes to the ground water, and that potentially contaminates the drinking water.  What's a mom to do? 

I have an idea.  How about we take all our toys and drop them off or ship them to Nancy's office his Christmas, with a note asking her to dispose of them properly and asking her to resign.  Maybe something like this:

Nancy A. Nord
Acting Chairman
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814

Dear Commissioner Nord:

Enclosed please find one Elmo Light Up Musical Pal that was once loved and enjoyed by my child.  It was, that is, until we found out that it contains toxic lead that could lead to kidney disease, mental retardation, stroke and potentially death for children.  We don't know how to safely dispose of this poison, so I'm asking that you to do it.

If you don't think protecting children from lead poisoning is your job, then I kindly ask that you resign and make room for someone who will.  I'm sure the toy companies would love to have you back on the payroll. 

Sincerely,

A Concerned Mom

If you don't want to go to the trouble of packing up all those toys and shipping them off, or don't have any of the toys on the list, just go sign the petition to demand Nancy Nord's resignation. I did.  Hopefully, she'll be off on a cruise to the Island of Misfit Toy Testers by Hannukah, most likely on an all-expense paid voyage courtesy of Mattel.

Another thing you can do is join the Consumers Union's Not In My Cart campaign to "Get the Lead Out This Christmas."  To find out what other moms are doing about this issue, check out the Parent Bloggers Network for a list of sites participating in the Consumers Union Campaign.  Also, check out Moms Speak Up for information on toy recalls and actions you can take to protect your kids from lead poisoning.

Comments

[Kristen]

Awesome idea Glennia.

I'll happily pay to ship my load of recalled toys right to her doorstep.

[mothergoosemouse]

I'm still speechless at the thought of refusing funds to hire additional staff. That's unheard of.

And I love what you said here: "When you take a job regulating what businesses can or can't do, you hold the public's interest first and foremost."

That's why it's called PUBLIC SERVICE.

[mama k]

Thanks for the link. This is just so crazy and scary.

I put my entry up here :)
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-toy-warning.html

[mayberry]

I love the idea of sending all the bad stuff straight to Nancy Nord. Excellent.

[susiej]

What a brilliant idea. I expected more -- especially from woman.

[Daisy]

Bias has no place in a position like hers.

[x-ray fluorescence]

Awesome post. This is just so crazy and scary.I'm still speechless at the thought of refusing funds to hire additional staff.