- Consumer Alert
-
Consumer Alert Formation 1977 Extinction 2006? Type 501(C)(3) Corporation Location 3050 K Street NW
Washington, DCRegion served United States Chairman William C. MacLeod Website www.consumeralert.org Consumer Alert was an American non-profit organization which advocated on business and consumer issues. It was primarily funded by corporations.[1] It was founded in 1977[2] by Barbara A. Keating-Edh and John Henry Sununu, who would later go on to become Governor of New Hampshire (1983–89) and White House Chief of Staff during the George H. W. Bush administration.
The philosophy of Consumer Alert advocated free-market solutions to consumer dissatisfaction and promoted the belief that markets are best regulated by informed consumers. In the organization's opinion effective consumer advocacy must steadfastly oppose any actions by government or industry that limits competition within markets.[3]
Consumer Alert considered itself a conservative opponent to the liberal political bent of mainstream consumer advocacy. Speaking of the legislation advocated by other consumer organizations Consumer Alert President Barbara A. Keating-Edh said:[4]
“ The regulations ignore the fact that auto accidents are caused by unsafe drivers, not unsafe cars. Accidents involving children are caused by unattentive parents. Home fires are caused by careless smokers, not dangerous furniture.
...The no-growth movement that is playing havoc with our freedoms gains momentum by fanning public paranoia and by doting on those persons who can't be happy unless they believe they are being poisoned by someone who is earning a profit.” The organization sued anti-nuclear-power activists in attempts to make protesters pay for the police presence at demonstrations.[5]
Consumer Alert was originally based in Darien, Connecticut.[6] During much of its existence its offices were located in Washington, DC.
The organization published a bimonthly newsletter titled Consumer Comments with ISSN 0740-4964. Articles from some issues are available online at TheFreeLibrary.com.
In 1989 Sununu was succeeded as Chairman by attorney William C. MacLeod who would later become director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection.[7]
Comments on the SourceWatch web site indicate that Consumer Alert's web site was operational at least until February of 2006.[8] As of July 2010 the web-based organization registry of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) of Washington, DC, for the registration of Consumer Alert, Inc., file number 770925, shows status "revoked". The DCRA site defines "revoked" as: "An involuntary termination of charter or authority."
Financial Information
United States IRS forms 990 for Consumer Alert Inc. Organization Name State Year Total Assets Form Pages EIN Consumer Alert Inc. - 2002 DC
2002
$36,189
990
20
06-0961299
Consumer Alert Inc. - 2003 DC
2003
$37,190
990
19
06-0961299
Consumer Alert Inc. - 2004 DC
2004
$34,047
990
16
06-0961299
References
- ^ Mintz, Morton (1981-01-01), "Consumer Transition Chief Proponent of Free Choices", The Victoria Advocate, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sFAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_FcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5544,80933&hl=en
- ^ Bykerk, Loree Gerdes; Maney, Ardith (1995), U.S. Consumer Interest Groups: Institutional Profiles, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780313264290, OCLC 30812483, http://books.google.com/books?id=UsMRnFY8mMoC&pg=PA81
- ^ Lammerding, Betsy (1984-10-19), "Consumers advised to read labels", The Beaver County Times, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KP4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uNoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1269,3221365
- ^ Payette, Virginia (1981-11-10), "Consumer Alert battling regulations", The Lewiston Journal, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R10gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9mQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1519,1269981
- ^ Hoskins, Roger W. (1981-09-26), "Anti-nuclear activists sued", The Modesto Bee, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jhIkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=stMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3902
- ^ MacVickar, Kitty (1981-04-12), "Kramer vs. Keating - Consumer Protection Mandate or Choice?", The Hour, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z-kgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H24FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1687,3393995
- ^ "MacLeod to succeed Sununu as chairman of Consumer Alert" (Press release). PR Newswire. 1989-10-25. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-7799696.html.
- ^ "Consumer Alert". SourceWatch. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Consumer_Alert. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
External links
- Official website (defunct)
- Consumer Alert entry at SourceWatch
- Consumer Alert entry at NovelGuide.com, archived by WebCite here.
Categories:- Consumer rights organizations
- 1977 establishments
- Defunct organizations of the United States
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