Fouling our own nest

New York Times | 7-4-02 | Bob Herbert

[Sir_Humphrey]

I am suprised there is whining about " environmental racism' by Mr. Herbert since he loves playing the race card. This may be a sleeper issue with the soccer moms come November. Don't dismiss this as an eco-wacko issue. It's very much main stream will effect all of us. The GOP needs to counter this argument fast and show what it's doing about the problem.

[TADSLOS]

Those straws the libs keep grasping for are wearing thin as a White House intern's neglige.

[facedown]

Senator Joseph Lieberman, not exactly a left-winger on the environment or anything else...

Since the author is just a tad left of Marx, this comment is valid in his world-view.

[Eagle Eye]

Superfund dollars put many lawyer's kids through college.

[hgro]

The "Superfund" is the biggest swindle ever perpetrated with taxpayer money. The beneficiaries are - guess who?
LAWYERS.

[knarf]

"Those straws the libs keep grasping for are wearing thin as a White House intern's neglige."

I understand what you mean, but the comment is out of line ... you're referring, of course, to an X42's beige house ... not our White House nor occupants.

besides ... it's a thong and not a neglige'.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Superfund dollars put many lawyer's kids through college.

Irrelevant! The GOP will loose big time if they claim that not cleaning up these (often) toxic waste sites is worth it because of a few slime-ball lawyers.

Yes, by all means put in the safeguards which probably will mean less money spent(of course the Dems will whine about it)but don't let the clean-up process die.

[EggsAckley]

"I have affixed to me the dirt and dust of countless ages. Who am I to disturb history?"

This should become the Demon-crats new motto; it describes them perfectly.

[Sir_Humphrey]

The "Superfund" is the biggest swindle ever perpetrated with taxpayer money. The beneficiaries are - guess who? LAWYERS.

I guess that means we should just learn to live with the pollution, ignore the health riskd and not bother to clean it up?

[Eagle Eye]

The GOP will loose big time if they claim that not cleaning up these (often) toxic waste sites is worth it because of a few slime-ball lawyers.

Sorry, I forgot, I'm supposed to put party power over fiscal discipline and Constitution. Hey, wait, I'm not GOP!

[dighton]

Go read the by-laws of Free Republic -- the work of some writers, such as Bob Herbert and Al Hunt, must ALWAYS include a gag alert.

This is a thorny area of FR jurisprudence. According to numerous experts, a gag alert is NEVER required when the author's name is sufficient warning.

See for example People v. Pokey78, in the matter of Dowd and Fisk.

Happy Independence Day!

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Please use BARF alert.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Sorry, I forgot, I'm supposed to put party power over fiscal discipline and Constitution. Hey, wait, I'm not GOP!

I agree with you about blind party loyality- we are after all Americans first. I agree also about Fiscal discipline, but it will be irreponsible for the feds not to clean this up. I agree in that teh Feds power should be limited (not eliminated but much less than it is today), but this is one area that they should intervene in.

[dalereed]

"don't let the clean-up process die."

Compounds declared hazaderous by university scumballs using junk science. Mostly based on "one false premise guarntees a false conclusion" in my opinion.

If the findings of those jerks was even 2% correct I would have been dead 50 years ago having consumed hundreds of pounds of a number of them including asbestos, trichlorethelene, lead, etc., etc..

[hauerf]

Superfund cleanups, along with most other "toxic" waste cleanups, are a total crock.

If only people can be trained to not eat large servings of dirt buried beneath topsoil in their lawns, many who live in homes built on top of "toxic" waste will live happily ever after.

[Eagle Eye]

Superfund is about cleanup like the NEA is about education.

So-called enviromental science has eliminated the use of many cheap, effective chemicals, requiring expensive substitutes that either increase the cost of production or eliminated the process altogether. It has created countless torts, which also adversely effect the costs of business.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Superfund cleanups, along with most other "toxic" waste cleanups, are a total crock.

There is alot of junk science out there for sure. Still if it's a total crock, howcome there are no studies that I am aware of that show these sites to be safe. If what you saying is true, this would be the easiest way to prove your point.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Compounds declared hazaderous by university scumballs using junk science. Mostly based on "one false premise guarntees a false conclusion" in my opinion.

Have any been proven safe?

[Sir_Humphrey]

So-called enviromental science has eliminated the use of many cheap, effective chemicals, requiring expensive substitutes that either increase the cost of production or eliminated the process altogether. It has created countless torts, which also adversely effect the costs of business.

Agree 100%. Most "environmentalists" are cripto- socialists and they are to be viewed with suspicion. However, we can't hide our heads in the sand about all environmental issues. There are some issues that can't be ignored.