30 years later...

This monthly letter to subscribers from Consumers Union President Jim Guest highlights the critical consumer issues behind our current reports. See archived letters.

The year I became chair of the board of Consumers Union, the president of CU, Rhoda Karpatkin, wrote in this very column, "Consumers who have been victimized by shady business practices or shoddy merchandise aren't concerned about ‘over-regulation.' They simply want a fair shake in an often confusing and unfair marketplace."

That was 30 years ago. As you'll see from the new debit-card rules outlined on page 11, there's still plenty of unfairness to go around.

But in 1980, regulation was under fire from some quarters on the grounds that it was too expensive. Consumers Union and others countered that improving safety, protecting health, and saving lives had benefits that far exceeded the costs.

Consumers, with the image of Ford's exploding Pinto fresh in their minds, agreed. A jury had just awarded a Pinto-crash burn victim $125 million after Ford executives testified that it hadn't made sense to spend $11 more per car to make the vehicle safer.

They didn't have to. The Pintos in question met weak fuel-system safety standards. Regulations enacted after the fiery crashes were much stronger.

Also in 1980, the Evaporated Milk Association proposed setting the lead limit in canned milk at triple the average at that time. CU argued that the proposed level was dangerous and should be rejected by the government.

We now know that there is no safe level of lead for children; lead causes damage throughout the body. Regulations that took effect this past August put strict limits on lead in paint and in other materials in children's products.

You can count on Consumers Union to support marketplace improvements, including regulations that help keep consumers safe.

Jim Guest
President