I recently enjoyed the column written by Joelle McGinnis, which accurately argues against the use of warning labels. Legislators across this country have over-abused the use of warning labels, with a special thanks to our nation’s hungry (yet not starving) attorney’s, and to many new special-interest groups, who continue to push for 100 new laws per every one tragedy.

Joelle seemed to be asking one simple question—What happened to using our own common sense? Unfortunately, when an accident occurs today in the “self-rightious” eighties, it becomes everyone else’s fault. The thought process in America today is one which finds fault with others, and one which seeks lawsuits; attempting to sue everyone from the manufacturer down to the stock boy who put the “faulty” product on the shelf.

For example, if you use a ladder and fall off of it, you can sue the manufacturer unless he rids himself of that liability by warning the consumer of the possible hazards. This results in warning labels. CAUTION! DO NOT STEP ABOVE THIS STEP, BECAUSE YOUR NEXT STEP MAY BE YOUR LAST STEP—any questions, SEE STEP If you were to fall, you could probably dial 1-800-LADDERS and find some well-paid attorney to suck dollars out of the manufacturer’s pocket.

The lack of productivity in many U.S. industries is not the result of over-seas competition, but it is the cost of liabiltiy. Our country has the technology to build and market products much further advanced than do other countries, but manufacturers are afraid to take the risks of advancement because of the costs of liabiltiy. In addition, today’s thought process is so out of line that people spend more time and money ridiculing certain products and industries, rather than using their own innovativeness to develop new products and new industries (i.e. special-interest groups). Maybe someone should round up people who have been hurt by falling off ladders and start P.A.U.L. (People Against Unlabelled Ladders).

It is unfortunate that our society caters to this kind of thinking. Crediting others for achievement and blaming ourselves for errors no longer exists. Rather than taking control of our own lives and adopting some self-responsibility, many individuals in today’s society would rather have the law makers make our decisions for us.

Joelle was right, at this rate and with this kind of thinking, one day every product will have to carry a warning label. Why? Because if you try hard enough, you can misuse any product made today, and find a way to have it become harmful to someone. Whether you fall off of it, break it, hit someone with it, drop it, throw it, swallow it, poke someone with it, or drown in it, any product can be of danger if you don’t use your own common sense. Maybe our law makers can slap this label on beer can: WARNING! IF YOU CONSUME TOO MUCH OF WHAT‘S INSIDE THIS CAN, YOU MAY BECOME IMPAIRED. HOWEVER, IF YOU CONSUME THE CAN ITSELF, YOU MIGHT BECOME NAUSEOUS AND SINCE IT IS ALUMINUM, DON’T ALLOW IT TO TOUCH YOUR CAVITY FILLINGS OR YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GREAT PAIN.” Common Sense, right?

Curtis Duefel