Today I bought some onions from a vendor at the Lauderdale County farmers market. They were priced at $1.00 per pound. He weighed them on his uncertified scalde at 2.5 pounds. When I hefted the bag, it did not feel like 2.5 pounds and I am very good at estimating weight. I took my purchase down to one of the vendors who has a brand new certified scale and weighed it there. It weighed 2.01 pounds. I did not go back to complain to the first vendor, but probably should have.
My experience illustrates the reason the Department of Agriculture officials initially instructed vendors at the market to obtain certified scales. Of course, the reason Ron Sparks backed off that position is because even though it is his job to enforce accurate weights and measures, he now wants another job--that of Governor--and he does not want to do anything that would alienate voters, even if it is the right thing to do.
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