Bush aims to pull a string of fast ones
" Just last week, for example, the Bush people
notified the pesticide industry that the
Environmental Protection Agency will once again
accept studies that the pesticide companies have
financed to determine application standards on
fruits and vegetables. That reverses a policy
enacted by the Clinton administration to stop
considering those test results because they were
frequently questioned as to their ethical and
scientific value. "
By Dave Zweifel
December 10, 2001
The time has never been more ripe for the
Republicans to foist their political agenda on the
American people.
Few are watching, after all, and those who are
get accused by the likes of John Ashcroft of aiding
the enemy.
While the citizenry stays focused on the war on
terrorism and the continuing saga over where
Osama Bin Laden is hiding today, the
administration is tweaking social policy, making
crucial appointments and, in some cases,
wholesale changes to rules and regulations that
have been years in the making.
Just last week, for example, the Bush people
notified the pesticide industry that the
Environmental Protection Agency will once again
accept studies that the pesticide companies have
financed to determine application standards on
fruits and vegetables. That reverses a policy
enacted by the Clinton administration to stop
considering those test results because they were
frequently questioned as to their ethical and
scientific value.
Several scientists pointed out that using the
industry-sponsored studies was akin to accepting
the conclusions of a Philip Morris study on the
health effects of smoking.
But, once again, we find out with this
administration that the corporations count for a
lot more than the people unless, of course, they
happen to be people who give a lot of money;
like Gaddi Vasquez, whom Bush has appointed
director of the Peace Corps.
Vasquez's appointment, which got a hearing
before the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee,
would have gone completely unnoticed had it not
been for a group of former Peace Corps
volunteers appalled at his complete lack of
credentials for the job.
Some will remember that Vasquez was the
Orange County, Calif., supervisor who was forced
to resign after plunging the county $1.7 billion in
debt because of ill-advised investments during
the mid-90s. It appears that the sole qualification
of the former cop and longtime pal of former
California Republican Gov. Pete Wilson is that he
contributed more than $100,000 to Bush and the
Republican Party during the past two years.
The volunteers, who are contacting their
members of Congress, point out that now, more
than ever, the Peace Corps needs a visionary
leader, not one who has absolutely no
international program experience and, in addition
to bankrupting Orange County, is best known for
denying services to HIV/AIDS patients there. The
AIDS issue, of course, is huge ion the African
continent, where many Peace Corps members are
working with the people and governments.
The volunteers, who served under both
Democratic and Republican administrations, told
the Senate committee, "170,000 Peace Corps
volunteers have lived and worked in over 135
countries over the past 40 years. In an age of
terrorists, these are men and women who have
worked for peace. They deserve a director worthy
of their efforts."
Wisconsin citizens will be interested in knowing
that Sen. Russ Feingold sits on the committee.
You can let him know how you feel about this yet
another political payoff that's being made while
the nation's attention is averted.
Published: 9:46 AM 12/10/01
captimes.com |
