| Comment Number: | 522418-01026 |
| Received: | 6/5/2006 10:44:24 PM |
| Organization: | Shaklee Corporation |
| Commenter: | Kathryn Ferguson |
| State: | IA |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear FTC, I am writing this letter to express my strong opposition to the proposed Business Opportunity Rule R511993. I understand that it is the responsibility of the Federal Trade Commission to protect the public from “unfair and deceptive acts or practices”, but the rule as proposed would make it very difficult for me to operate my business as a Shaklee Independent Distributor. Fifty year old companies such as Shaklee Corporation and their distributors would be placed at a disadvantage compared to direct selling companies, which may not yet have experienced litigation but which are far more likely to have legal issues surrounding their opportunities. Dr. Shaklee, the founder of Shaklee Corporation was an Iowan, as I am, from the Heartland, where the traditional values of honesty and fair play are held high. I have been in Shaklee for thirty-six years. Five years after starting Shaklee, my husband was killed in an auto accident. I was fifty-five years old at the time with 5 children. Although I had a Master’s Degree I had no marketable skills, but I had Shaklee. For thirty one years Shaklee has been the only income for my family. This rule would make it almost impossible for me to recruit new members into my group. I am now approaching 86 years of age, and I am very grateful that I had this opportunity in my life, as a woman alone, to take care of my family so well for so many years. I am still working my business every day of my life just like I always did. Shaklee gave me this opportunity. I would not have been able to do this had this rule been in place that you propose. I am sure you at the FTC can find an effective way to protect the public without limiting people’s opportunities as I believe this rule. America is about opportunity and liberty; please work your level best to keep it that way! Yours,