Da Young Kim is an Atlanta woman who sold cosmetic (noncorrective) contact lenses online. The Bureau of Consumer Protection — acting through a small army of Justice Department lawyers — rushed to court to declare this woman a criminal. FULL ARTICLE by S. M. Oliva
Source link: http://archive.mises.org/15614/the-ftc-vs-the-ftc/
The FTC vs. the FTC
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When I hear about injustice like this, I feel angry. The government is not here to help us, the citizens, but to take care of itself and the special interest groups that use it. I’m currently reading Atlas Shrugged and the further I get into it the more it seems that the book is coming to life before me in everyday life.
The profession of optometrist does not exist in Germany or Holland (and probably other countries). When I was in Germany, I broke a lens and went to an optician and simply told him the prescription I wanted (as I knew what it was). No doctor’s note was needed.
In Holland, I wanted to make up my own clip-on reading lenses and got a pair of clip-on sunglasses that fit my glasses and simply asked an optician to put a +1.25 diopter lens in. No problem. I doubt you could do this in the US.
Here in the states, some states, such as CA won’t let you replace a scratched lens by reading off the prescription of the lenses. You must have a prescription and it can’t be older than 2 years. When I lived in PA you could do this.
Years ago my ophthalmologist told me where I could buy my own trial lens set and for some years I used to simply write my own prescriptions. I’ve noticed that on e-bay, they won’t sell you a trial lens set unless you are a licensed practitioner.
I finally got tired of it all and got laser surgery. Now I only need to get some reading glasses at the 99cent stores. Instead of paying on the order of hundreds of dollars, I have some 20 pairs of all different powers that cost me about $20.
“These “investigators” will make purchases using false identities and credit cards to generate a pretext for FTC intervention.”
False identities and credit cards = fraud.
“So instead the Commission seized her car.”
And they wonder why people go off and do crazy things to seemingly innocent government employees.
Well written article as always, Oliva. Thanks.
Then do something about it. Despite the ostensible reasoning behind tattoo regulations, all states have deregulated. The same with fireworks recently in Indiana.
Personally, I couldn’t care less if tattoos, fireworks or cosmetic contacts are legal or illegal. However, alot of people with passions similar to those expressed against the FTC in this particular blog have affected change without, ” do(ing) crazy things to seemingly innocent government employees.”
Considering that there are risks associated with medical devices, I DO wonder why people act the way they do. Dubious law, maybe or maybe not. I think there is plenty of room for a rational response to government intervention.
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