REMANATIONS

This one could probably be listed in both Unintended Consequences and Religion of the State because it demonstrates the unintended, but easily foreseeable, results of the State attempting, yet again, to be God.

From an article in Sunday’s Strib:

Federal legislation passed in response to recalls of millions of toys over the past two years could have the unintended consequence of imposing unaffordable costs on the independent, cottage-industry toymakers Marshall buys from. Already struggling through a punishing recession, those toymakers may be hard-pressed to manage the new costs.

Story in a nutshell: A few children die from ingesting toys made of lead. Government moves quickly to address the problem by passing a law that places a tremendous financial burden on toymakers and sellers. Unintended Result: Small toymakers will be unable to stay afloat. What’s more, used toy stores and consignment shops will be in a world of hurt because they won’t be able to get all of their products tested. Finding used toys and clothing for children at affordable prices just got a lot harder.

Here’s a quotation from the champion of the new law, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D, MN):

Klobuchar said she would work with the companies through the agency and, if necessary, through Congress. But, she noted, “We had a child die from swallowing a charm that was made 99 percent of lead. The laws could not stay as they were.”

This, again, is the State attempting to control things with god-like power. “Henceforth, by decree of the U.S. Government, bad things shall not happen. Ever.”

Now, lest anyone think that I am making light of a significant tragedy (the death of a child), let me just say this: my mockery of the State’s approach to solving this problem stems from a concern for the genuine welfare of real people. The State, with one swoop of the pen, may have just ruined the livelihoods of numerous small-business owners (you know, the kind with children), and made it far more difficult for lower-income folks (who shop at second-hand stores) to get affordable clothing and toys for their kids. All so that politicians can look like they’re doing something important.

When you have a hammer, every problem is a nail. When you’re a legislator, every solution is a new law. But we live in fallen world, and no matter how many laws Senator Klobuchar manages to pass, bad things will still happen. Children will continue to put all kinds of things in their mouths. No federal fiat will change that (though I can imagine that Senator Klobuchar might try). But in order to recognize the limitations of State power, we must first repent of our misplaced faith in the Nanny-State and place all of our hope in the One who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth.