Suppose I wanted to buy something I found at a garage sale but didn't have the cash on hand. Suppose I asked the person running the sale to hold it for me for a few weeks. And suppose she said sure, but she'd need a 10 percent down payment, and she'd add $5 to the purchase price.

Like most people, I'm perfectly capable of deciding whether to take that offer or walk away. But Sen. Charles Schumer doesn't trust you or me with such decisions. 

He is upset that some retailers are offering holiday layaway plans on terms like these. He says they represent a lousy deal, compared to what credit card companies charge to let consumers make purchases. "These layaway programs are nothing more than hideaways for sky-high interest rates that consumers would never tolerate with a credit card," he insists.

True. But this option is not a credit card, which helps explain why some people would take advantage of the opportunity. Some shoppers don't have credit cards, and some don't like to use them for fear of racking up bills they can't pay. Layaway programs are for people like that, who can make entirely rational choices reflecting their needs and preferences.

If Schumer doesn't like the terms of these programs, I would certainly not stop him from using other methods to buy his gifts. But some people do like them, and Congress has no business getting in their way. I suggest Schumer put this idea in the back for later pickup -- and leave it there.