Caveat Emptor!

In 1626, when Dutchman Peter Minuit landed on what is now Manhattan Island, Indian Chief Manhasset sold him the island of Manhattan for $24.00 worth of junk jewelry.  The trouble was he didn't own the island!  Thus the consumer movement in "America" began...or so the story goes.

What is the "Consumer Movement"?

• increasing the quantity and quality of objective and useful information about products and services,
• resolving consumer problems and strengthening redress, especially for consumers who have access problems in the marketplace,
• improving the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations to protect consumers,
• cultivating strong consumer organizations to more clearly articulate and champion the consumer interests,
• motivating the vast powers of government to assist efforts to improve the way the capitalistic economy works so that it better supports the interests of consumers,
• trying to fix the political system itself by limiting political action committees, prohibiting legislators from accepting honoraria and financing elections with public funds, and
• mobilizing and empowering citizens to effectively participate in our democracy.

...is concerned with securing, protecting, and asserting consumer rights primarily in marketplace transactions in order that consumers receive an acceptable quality of goods and services at fair or low prices.

What is the Public Interest?

...is concerned with generally accepted, socially shared standards and practices pertaining to the welfare of all those in the community.

TEST YOUR CONSUMER KNOW HOW

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