GOP plans to slash funding to EPA and cut environmental rules.

[gimpy117]

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/07...ronmental.html

Why is the GOP doing this? why is the most funding cut? Do they have some ax to grind on the hippies?

It just seems like a bad idea to eliminate rules preventing things like...oh mercury from poisoning us.

[krashkart]

I don't know if they have an axe to grind, but if that's the best they can do to cut the deficit then they're not trying hard enough. Slash environmental funding and we lose how many decades of progress and the money spent on making that progress happen? Hrm... There must be another way. How about they all go without pay for a few years? That would help.

[Armistead]

Well, if you study it, looks like more corporate giveaways. Certainly some items need to be cut, but when this crap happens it's just a political sell out. We've already seen corporate profits soar and no trickle down effect and they won't to keep lowering corporate taxes. In reality, it's not taxes they care about, it's buying regulation and the GOP is a big sellout. Dems aren't far behind. Our government nothing but a bunch of sold out criminals.

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Our government nothing but a bunch of sold out criminals.

What the heck do you mean by this?

We have absolutely the best government that special interests and corporate donors can buy, thank you very much.

[August]

And meanwhile the Obama administration is going to cut off funding for the new US Earthquake Warning System, putting potentially millions of Americans lives at risk.

Go figure.

[mookiemookie]

Funding for these sorts of projects are such a small piece of the pie. It's clear that this isn't about budget concerns - it's pure politics.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by August

US Earthquake Warning System,

That made me laugh!! Thanks August.

Sounds kinda like the same sorta of severe weather system I've seen in the back country.







Is the ground shaking?

Yup? Earthquake.

Can you stand up?

Nope? Bad Earthquake.




I'm all for making a safe and reliable prediction system, but I highly doubt it will end up being accurate enough to make a reliable Early Warning system. Psuedo Science Pork FTW!.


This is exaclty what Bush did in his first few months in office. He revoked/repealed the majority of the huge environmental gains that Clinton made, all so his Oil Cronies could make more money. I sat there and fumed as I saw law after law being repealed all in the sake of money. Then a few years ago, I saw this documentary which details the affects of the Bush "environmental" legislation on a personal level.

[GoldenRivet]

Our lives are overly regulated by these EPA a-holes

They shut down a local construction site for a whole day because they had the wrong style of gas cans for christs sake.

The gas can the EPA recommends is a pure POS and has resulted in me accidentally dumping at least a half gallon per fill up into the local lake.

In most cases- I think the morons at the EPA cause more harm than good.

And face it... Virtually every aspect of your life is regulated by these turds. These sub-human pieces of trash mandate everything from the type of light bulbs you buy to the type of gas cans you can store fuel in within your own GD garage.

If we don't strike back they WILL regulate us right into extinction.

They shut down a local construction site for a whole day because they had the wrong style of gas cans for christs sake.

That happens everywhere, its normal. There are damn good reasons why there is legislation concerning the storage of chemicals in the workplace.
Sure everyone tries to get away with using any old drum thats lying around.
But when something does go wrong then you are responsible and liable, and if you get caught even if nothing has gone wrong then you are still responsible and liable.
People who complain about getting caught have no grounds to complain.

The gas can the EPA recommends is a pure POS and has resulted in me accidentally dumping at least a half gallon per fill up into the local lake.

That probably reflects your own abilities rather than the quality of the container

These sub-human pieces of trash mandate everything from the type of light bulbs you buy to the type of gas cans you can store fuel in within your own GD garage.

If we don't strike back they WILL regulate us right into extinction.

You sound like Skybird

[Takeda Shingen]

First $20k-a-year teacher salaries, now a return to rivers that burn. Not exactly the vision for America that I was hoping for.

[Penguin]

How wise and long-term-thinking! Even from a strict financial POV this is bs. The costs lax enviromental laws cause outweigh the short term savings.
This is typical for bean counters who only think of their own budget. Showing "financial sensibility" by cutting a budget and not thinking of the costs the general public has to pay.
Who pays if people's health get affected by lax regulations? Right, everybody for themselves...

@GR: I give a flying **** about PC, but I think the term subhumans is not appropriate for this forum. Maybe it's just the Kraut in me, but I can't stand this expression.

[AngusJS]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Then a few years ago, I saw this documentary which details the affects of the Bush "environmental" legislation on a personal level.

That's a good film. Sometimes environmentalists talk about what chemicals are in our water without considering if they're at dangerous levels or not, but I think everyone can agree that you should not be able to set your tapwater on fire as it's coming out of the faucet.

And Bush exempted these gas companies from the Clean Water Act so they could do whatever they want, public health be damned.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

First $20k-a-year teacher salaries, now a return to rivers that burn. Not exactly the vision for America that I was hoping for.

Funny. I was about to post this picture without comment:

[August]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I'm all for making a safe and reliable prediction system, but I highly doubt it will end up being accurate enough to make a reliable Early Warning system. Psuedo Science Pork FTW!.

Well from what I read it's an improved version of the system they have already installed in Japan and that did save some lives. I think your calling it "pseudo science pork" without even checking into it, sort of belies your claim that your "for a safe and reliable prediction system".

[GoldenRivet]

@ Tribesman...


these little POS EPA Gas Cans that are not vented, and require you to tip the gas can with one hand, while pulling back and twisting the sheath on the pour spout with the other hand... they SUCK and are a horrible idea.

the reality of it is that 5 gallons of gas weighs about 30 lbs, they pour at a rate of about one gallon per 2-3 minutes and it requires considerable effort to operate such an awkward device for 10-12 minutes in such a twisted half assed manner as they recommend.

thus, you get people who say to hell with it, pop off the spout, up end the container and pour the fuel freely into the tank. on a rocking boat, this can result in some spillage unfortunately.

with the old style gas cans that the government didnt have their hands all over, i could unscrew the vent cap, tip the gas can up with both hands (adding substantial stability) placing the ENTIRE pour spout into the fuel tank and just hold it there... the whole can would be empty in 1.5-2 minutes flat.

on the subject of the EPA regulating things in general.

yes... some regulatory items are important.

NO.. i don't think it makes a hell of a lot of difference what sort of gas can a construction company uses to fuel up their bulldozers and chain saws and weed eaters.

and i especially dont think the government should have its say on every little thing people can or cannot go to the store and buy.


shut down the EPA? no

Trim the fat and tell them to chill the F out? absolutely