From The Wichita Eagle: Letters To The Editor, Monday March 14, 2011
Consumer Database Could Be Abused
Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, has tried to slow down the government in its efforts to create a consumer complaint database on the Internet (March 7 Eagle). Many think he shouldn't do that.
Michael Lipsky, for example, said the database would help prevent problems such as lead poisoning ("Pompeo's cut puts children's safety at risk," March 8 Opinion) —as if parents can tell if a product has lead in it.
The problem with the bill as passed is that consumers can slander a producer at will, with no check on the validity of their complaints. The consumer may have simply misread the product label, or may have some gripe that has nothing to do with the complaint being made. Disgruntled employees can complain about their company, or about a competitor company. These invalid complaints would not be so bad, except on this database they automatically get a stamp of approval from the federal government.
Pompeo is not trying to kill the database idea. He is just asking the federal government to slow down a little and consider its potential problems. It can then be reinstated with modifications to increase the probability that the complaints being made are valid.
GORDON BAKKEN
Chairman
Libertarians Of South Central Kansas
Wichita
Consumer Database Could Be Abused
Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, has tried to slow down the government in its efforts to create a consumer complaint database on the Internet (March 7 Eagle). Many think he shouldn't do that.
Michael Lipsky, for example, said the database would help prevent problems such as lead poisoning ("Pompeo's cut puts children's safety at risk," March 8 Opinion) —as if parents can tell if a product has lead in it.
The problem with the bill as passed is that consumers can slander a producer at will, with no check on the validity of their complaints. The consumer may have simply misread the product label, or may have some gripe that has nothing to do with the complaint being made. Disgruntled employees can complain about their company, or about a competitor company. These invalid complaints would not be so bad, except on this database they automatically get a stamp of approval from the federal government.
Pompeo is not trying to kill the database idea. He is just asking the federal government to slow down a little and consider its potential problems. It can then be reinstated with modifications to increase the probability that the complaints being made are valid.
GORDON BAKKEN
Chairman
Libertarians Of South Central Kansas
Wichita
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