OT OT
Willcousa, Robert, Sam, Jacob, and all-
IMO, pollution control, whether global warming is involved or not, is still important. I agree with Jacob's analysis of the relationship between hydrocarbon pollutants and pulminary diseases --altho not for cancer. As Robert pointed out, many carcinogins--including cell phones--turn out to be false alarms. One current scare is in the Hudson River where GE may be forced to dredge out the PCB's. I initially believed that PCB's were carcinogenic, but data changed my mind on that one. The evidence that I've seen is that dredging will do more harm than good, but the environmental lobby has demonized GE and politicians are afraid to cross them.
IMO, however, I love the environmental groups for keeping our attention on issues that we know industry will ignore if they could. Hopefully, altho I'm skeptical, reason and data will win out. I also agree with, I believe Willcousa, who points out that many species perish every year. Protecting some leads to huge costs, usually borne by the working class. I am curious about the cost of preserving the salmon in the Northwest. The slides, breeding, and chutes seem very expensive. None of us are against the salmon, but how much do programs like this cost? Jabob would know better, but when I fished in Prince William Sound, there was a Salmon glut, much caused by salmon farming, that drove the price down to under 20 cents per pound. This was a year (perhaps 2)after the oil spill and the commercial fisherman --a friend's brother who took us around he said there was minimal damage. The day I got back, I read in the NY Times how decimated the Sound was by the spill. Even I caught salmon!
Remember, it is the working class who constitute the tax base in the US. They pay for programs that benefit mainly the middle class. IMO, some environmental groups seem to have the same mentality of the Al Qaida -- those who disagree are evil and must be punished. My concern is both with the environment and with some claims that seem to be contagious hysteria.
I am also glad that there was interest in the issues. Both pollution and tedium must be reduced and I was afraid of contributing to the tedium!
fred |
