The FTC Disposes

Question: What do federal judges and used-car salesmen have in common with the makers of Formica? Answer: All of them are hopping mad at the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC, in fact, has a considerably larger negative constituency than this rhetorical query would suggest. Others who might be added to the list include cereal companies, funeral directors, the insurance industry, mail-order firms, engineering societies, and a host of U.S. representatives and senators. The last- named are a particular problem. Since they control the official purse strings, the agency is in a heap of trouble.