Wednesday, April 25, 2001
|
Wednesday, April 25, 2001 |
|
Beware, Demos using arsenic to poison political debate The Democrats are coming after your broccoli. That's right. Broccoli contains trace amounts of arsenic, and the Democrats believe that trace amounts of arsenic are toxic at least in drinking water. Next they'll be coming after the broccoli. Actually, one could say that nothing is toxic it is the dosage of a toxic substance that determines harm. Trace amounts of an element could even be helpful. Trace amounts of arsenic may combat some diseases. But arsenic has a bad name. Therefore, in the waning hours of the Clinton-Gore Administration, the EPA reduced the minuscule amount of arsenic permissible in drinking water (50 parts per billion or ppb) to the more minuscule (10 ppb) without further study or a cost-benefit analysis. When the Bush Administration looked at the new regulations, and found them scientifically indefensible and economically unwarranted, they went back to the old standard. The predictable result was grist for the Democrat spin machine. Although we are concerned here with arsenic naturally occurring in drinking water, the Jackass Party immediately conjured up images of polluters dumping arsenic in our waterways: "The Republicans are poisoning our children." Arsenic is naturally present in most drinking water. Basically, this is not a pollution or dumping problem. The National Research Council (NRC) studied the risks of arsenic in drinking water and released its findings in 1999. The study was based in part upon studies of persons outside of the U.S., who were exposed to arsenic in substantially higher levels than Americans. They recommended a reduction in the U.S. level, but admitted more study was necessary, especially because the effects on U.S. citizens might be different than on foreigners who have different diets which may include much more broccoli(?). The EPA's science advisory board said that agency's assessment tended to exaggerate risks. Besides, the cost of the regulation for a town of 400 homes was estimated to be $2.5 billion. Another small community estimated that water bills would increase by $72 per month. One "environmentalist" estimates the cost to the average water district of $7.5 million. That's would mean a significant increase in your water bill. Never mind. Here was a made to order issue for the Jackass Party, and the spin machine went into high gear. The result could have been billions in taxes, and hidden costs paid by the consumer on each water bill (much like the 3 percent Al Gore tax on your telephone bill each month). Happily for the consumer, the eco-terrorism of the arsenic attack was thwarted by an administration more interested in substance than atmospherics. But, beware, the jackasses will be coming after your broccoli next! William Fielder Peachtree City
|
||