LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A new law aimed at keeping lead-tainted products from children is facing stiff opposition from business owners and charities that say it’ll put them out of business.

i’ve been trying for weeks now to put into words the thoughts that run through my head concerning this law.

words are extremely important when trying to make an impact.
choosing the most effective words is, to say the least, challenging.

good. mainstream finally decides it’s time to report something. but the report is weak at best. and the argument against the law is weaker still.

let’s face it, if someone is selling dangerous products that could kill or poison children (up to 99 years old), i could not care less if they go out of business because they have to stop. make it as safe and healthy as possible or don’t make it, right?

if a restaurant has potatoes laced with arsenic, is a loss of inventory and income a valid reason to continue to serve them?

of course not! the “going out of business” argument just isn’t an argument at all.

Now, if we find that a restaurant has arsenic as an ingredient among their special herbs and spices do we make a law that all restaurants dispose of every item in their walk in refrigerators and shelves intended for human consumption as of February 10, 2009 even though there is NO evidence of stomach pains, sickness, or death amongst its patrons?

do we then add to that law that from February 10, 2009 every restaurant be subject (and pay for) extensive arsenic detecting tests that certify that the salt and pepper are INDEED arsenic free?

although i do not wish to suffer the agony of arsenic poisoning personally, and i surely do not want my children to either, these types of protective procedures are both extreme and unnecessary.

a more valid law would be to simply forbid the poisoning of food. those who violate that law can be investigated and prosecuted. and past offenders (the particular restaurateur – not all the poor potatoes) should be scrutinized.

not every manufacturer of every button to bunk bed for children 12 and under uses lead as an active ingredient, nor is every manufacturer in violation.

all should not be made to pay the price of one rotten potato.