A number of years ago I testified for the auto industry before the California Air Resources Board concerning the elimination of asbestos in automobile brakes. I pointed out that asbestos used in brakes was not the dangerous type and, even so, was mostly turned into Forsterite, not asbestos when exposed to the high temperatures at the braking interface. Only one percent of the original asbestos remained, and none of it was fibrous. It thus caused only 0.0001 percent of the airborne Asbestos in California. There was much debate whether it was 0.01 percent, or 0.0001 percent, depending on whether the original material, or the transformed material was conunted. Meanwhile, another presenter described a single gravel road in California made of asbestos rocks, that caused 30% of the airborne asbestos in the state.
I finally suggested that we should stop debating about the exact percentage of a trivial quantity, and just all get together and pave the offending road, and quickly eliminate 30% of the airborne asbestos in California.
The lead CARB negotiator turned to me with a scowl, and said loudly: "Because I have the authority to CONTROL you, that's why."
We lost, and automobiles contain no asbestos, but the road is still there.
And that’s what it’s all about.
Control.
They don’t really care about the facts or the people.