Wal-Mart, Mattel & Toys-R-Us CEOs Belong In Jail

Wal-Mart, Mattel and Toys-R-Us rolled out their big PR campaigns when their balloons where busted over selling lead tainted products to the public. They quickly whipped up the media into blaming China and the manufacture of the goods for all the problems. As is the norm in the US, the media did not look farther then the press release they where handed by these companies. They ran with the company story!

Over a year a go University of Cincinnati issued a study showing three countries, including China was still using leaded paints on various products. The study was based on actual testing of the products conducted by the university. They issued a public report and apparently these companies did not care as they continued to drive for higher profits for their CEOs big bonus checks.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2006/2006-08-24-02.asp

Testing for lead in paint is very simple. Various chemicals can simply be swabbed onto paint and will change color when lead is present. Even the more complicated testing for lower levels of lead is quick, simple and low cost.

People working in manufacturing plants all across the United States know a department within their operations called the Quality Department. The department tests/checks incoming parts and tests/checks outgoing products. This is done to make sure what you contracted to purchase is what you got and is usable. When shipping they test/check they test the final product going out the door to make sure it meets all requirements set forth by the company, regulatory bodies, and laws.

Now Wal-Mart, Mattel and Toys-R-Us could do like hundreds of other US companies and that is to have either their own quality department within the plants manufacturing their goods in China or hire an outside company in China to do their testing of the products before they where shipped. Someone needs to ask these companies why this was not done?

Wal-Mart, Mattel and Toy-R-Us also know, based on recall of other products, that only a certain percentage of products will be returned. The remainder will remain in the marketplace and they retain the profits. Not to mention the children that now may suffer brain damage at their hands.

These CEOs did not provide the leadership to make sure these products totally conformed to US standards and laws. In their lust for profit they damned some children to being brain damaged and should be sentenced to jail. This is white collar version of "child endangerment."

One has to wonder what it is like to get a bonus check for millions of dollars as a CEO knowing full well your actions helped brain damage children in your own country, state, city and maybe just down the block?

Once again the tax payers will pick up the bill for the children they damaged by paying for special education and helping them exist for the rest of their life.