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EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

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Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#72
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

The Democrats’ problem is that their supporters are better at sorting themselves into geographically distinct clusters, i.e. cities. You don’t get more Democratic representation for a 90% win than a 52% one. And gerrymandering is a bipartisan endeavour, whichever party is in power during redistricting gerrymanders, that’s just American politics. As far as the electoral college goes no one is making any effort at reform because no one cares unless it’s their ox that’s been gored. US presidential elections go by electoral college vote so that’s how candidates campaign. If it was by popular vote a lot more Republicans would bother voting in California and a lot more Democrats in Utah. There’s no actual constituency for reform, just the whining of losers. When the Democrats next take the White House there will be no talk of reforming the Electoral College.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#73

I imagine that whether or not the asbestos is frangible will be strongly considered during evaluation. Incidentally, I have also seen a good amount of evidence that the fiberglass we currently use to replace asbestos insulation is super bad for your health, but likely not as bad.

Asbestos, stone wool, fiberglass, etc. all tend to have the same physical properties, thus making them dangerous to inhale or ingest. Unfortunately, these physical properties tend to be why these materials are so effective as insulators.

Asbestos stands out in that list as causing a significant mesothelioma risk. It's because some of the fibers are so small. There's some speculation that carbon fiber will be similarly dangerous, but rock wool and fiberglass aren't quite there. They're nasty but not that nasty.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#74
post #58
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

I think you're massively overstating the effects of gerrymandering. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026137941... > while Republican and Democratic gerrymandering affects the partisan outcomes of Congressional elections in some states, the net effect across the states is modest, creating no more than one new Republican seat in Congress

It has a more dramatic effect on state governments: "In 2000, 21 state governments had governorships and state legislatures controlled by one party; 15 of those were Republican. But by 2010, 33 state governments were under one-party control, 22 of them Republican." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/04/2...

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#75
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

You trace it back though; we voted for the people who did the gerrymandering, and we voted for the electoral college (our ancestors did, anyway).

I say it's a feature, not a bug. Reducing everything to a popular vote is just a feel good way of describing mob rule.

The electoral college and equal Senate representation acts as a tempering force on said mob.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#76
There should also be a law requiring the CEO of the companies that produce it to receive a sample of each production batch, and they're required to install it at their house(s).

If it's only used as part of manufacturing process, the CEO must have an open office next to the machine and be there at least once a week.

"It's safe boss, you told me!"

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

So, what exactly happened? The EPA was founded by a republican (Nixon). Yet environmental efforts are now attributed to democrats. And combined with that, is that republicans was to destroy the very org they made? What am I missing out of this? Why did the parties completely change their face?

You’re missing the fact that introducing bureaucracy is the GOP’s best tool in dismantling big bad government.

In Nixon’s time, introducing an agency that directly answered to/was controlled by Congress was the name of the game.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#78
post #3

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/is-epa-allowing-asbestos-p... The EPA has not changed anything about currently banned uses of asbestos, and any new uses would first be assessed by the agency.

The EPA already allows asbestos to be used in a huge range of products. I simply cannot see what justification could be made for allowing asbestos to continue to be used in cement sheet, floor tile and brake pads. It might pose no immediate hazard when installed, but it could become a serious hazard at any point during its lifespan. Cement sheets crack and crumble, floor tiles become worn and get replaced, brake pads…

The danger of asbestos to regular people is way overstated. Yes, if you work around it every day for years without wearing a mask you'll regret it. If it's in your floor tiles and one breaks, you'll be fine.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#79
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thought would be as a cement additive in marine applications.

What about asbestos and marine wild life?

Genuine question, if you do not have lungs does asbestos have any negative impact on you? Marine animals either hold their breath and come up for air or have gills.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

a "stated stance"? Show me where? I call BS.

From their 2016 platform: We firmly believe environmental problems are best solved by giving incentives for human ingenuity and the development of new technologies, not through top-down, command-and-control regulations that stifle economic growth and cost thousands of jobs.
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