Many of us who follow retail business were alarmed by the Democrat Party's efforts to directly punish poor people a few years ago when the EPA banned a whole range of childrens toys from second hand stores. The ban was effected by requiring a lead content test for all toys that could possibly have lead in the paint. Since that included just about all toys second hand stores carried, they stopped carrying used toys. Hence: poor people either bought new toys or bought no toys.
If you think that was the most evil mean spirited thing the Democrat Party could do you need to read this op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.
Rhea Riner started a children’s clothing consignment store in her home. It grew into a national consignment business with a major Internet component.
The business uses physical operations to display the merchandise twice a year. Rhea uses volunteers to help set up the shows and run them. As a reward for the help the volunteers get early access to the show.
The Democrat run Labor Department said that the use of volunteers in the business was unacceptable and the reward was completely unacceptable. All volunteers had to be paid the local minimum wage.
Definitely an evil punishment for poor people who use businesses like Rhea’s to keep their costs down and have a more rewarding consumer life.