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From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Libertarianism and the Police
Message-ID: <354@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Jul-85 20:40:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: kontron.354
Posted: Mon Jul  8 20:40:51 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 11:19:57 EDT
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Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
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> >> advertise it.  Private quality-testing groups are great, for those with
> >> the sense to take advantage of them, and the time to do so.  Unfortunately,
> >> we don't all have the time to research each purchase, even if we might
> >> have the sense to want to.  So we like to be able to rely on the notion
> >> that false advertising and dangerous goods are rare, and eliminated
> >> whenever they are found (I guess that's still a pipe dream, but things
> >> are better than they used to be).
> >> -- 
> >> 
> >> Martin Taylor
> >
> >People sure are stupid, aren't they?  Our is it that you believe that you
> >are so much smarter than everyone else?
> 
> Where do you get either of those ideas out of what I said?

Your above remark: 
> >> Private quality-testing groups are great, for those with
> >> the sense to take advantage of them, 

From your remarks about Ford's "Quality is Job 1" ads, in which you suggest
that people are swayed by those ads enough that they can't see reality.

>  I don't think
> ANYONE is smart enough or has enough time to research whether lemons
> from that orchard used dangerous pesticides, AND that this or that
> toothpaste isn't just chalk in oil, AND that ....  for all purchases.
> I want a blanket assurance that my common purchases are going to do
> more or less what they claim and are not going to kill me.  Private
> quality-testing groups are great for the major purchases over which
> one is willing to spend some time and effort.  But I'd like to have
> some time left over after just surviving, for work and for play (and
> for sleep, too).  And I don't want to rely on my heirs getting a big
> judgment on a lawsuit over the meat that killed be.
> 
> Martin Taylor

Private quality testing groups are in a position to put a stamp of
approval (much like Underwriters Labs) on products that meet standards.
(Very much like the Food and Drug Administration does with meat.)  You
can be sure that grocery store chains would make a big hype that, 
"We carry only Consumer Research Institute approved foods." as a way
of encouraging customers to shop there.  In short order, I suspect that
all chain stores, and almost all independent grocery stores, would 
do so.