Who's REALLY Ruining Christmas?

I just learned of an article in the Wall Street Journal, that says in effect, us uppity mamas and consumer advocates are just ruining Christmas! We are actually asking for safer toys, for chemicals to be tested before being used in products, and for our food to be healthy and safe for our families.

How could we? How selfish! American consumers should be encouraged to blindly spend on plastic, PVC, and cheap toys from dollar stores! We should just trust a broken system of regulation that allows thousands of chemicals that have NEVER been tested for safety to be on the market, in products we use on our kids everyday. We should simply trust a food supply system that yields antibiotic resistant viruses, salmonella, E-coli, while spewing waste into our environment and fouling up water and air quality for miles.

What is wrong with us! Bah humbug. We must really be out to spoil holiday good times, after all, when all we want is the welfare of children, no matter what family you come from, no matter where you live, no matter what products you use. Why fight against pre-polluted babies? That is really self serving.

The article states that regulations are ruining Christmas.

How about the big chemical companies just caring about the bottom line instead of the public health? To understand this more fully pick up a copy of The Body Toxic by Nena Baker. I suggest Ms. Finley read it carefully, and then re-evaluate her statements.

How about really thinking about why Americans feel the need to spend thousands of dollars on stuff that won't be in use for more than a year or so but will be around forever in our landfills. Or that so many of us define some sort of happiness by the amount of stuff we purchase in a holiday season?

I'm also wondering what science Ms. Finley reviewed. Was it, perhaps, the same type of industry funded studies that have hidden the truth about cigarettes, DDT, or other chemicals and toxins for so long?

And the argument about a little of a harmful chemical being okay reminds me of early arguments not to regulate cigarettes, lead in gas, and alcohol consumption for pregnant women. How did those ones turn out?

The holidays, in my view, are about spending time with family, sharing in food and traditions, and a few gifts. Gifts that show love and kindness are ones that foster creativity, are fun, and not harmful to the child, the environment, or society. Is this too much to ask?

Apparently to Ms. Finley, I am ruining Christmas by making that simple request.

PS- The Good Will and Salvation Army having to toss thousands of toys is a disgrace (I struggle with what to do with my own children's toxic toys-- they live in my basement). But so is continuing to foster the chemical divide, where the "haves" play with safe toys, and the "have nots" play with toxic toys that further limit their opportunities for good health in the future.

image:slworking2's photostream on Flickr