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Originally Posted by kutulu
There are so many problems with the Libertarian Party's platform. If they had their way we'd eliminate the EPA, OSHA, and all federally funded consumer safety regulations. Instead of having a group that looks out for our long term and immediate safety, we'd have to wait until we have problems that can be proven in court before a problem gets fixed. That type of policy is completely retroactive and short-sighted.
Right now, if a company wants to build a new stack they have to demonstrate the the concentration of emissions will be below a certain level for it to be approved by environmental agencies. Once it is built, they then have to demonstrate (through testing and long term monitoring) that it is meeting those standards. Without the EPA, surrounding residents have to wait until they are experiencing negative health effects before they can even start doing anything about it. They also have to have enough people showing those effects for it to be significant enough to be taken seriously.
Because of OSHA, the ladders on that stack have to meet certain standards of safety such as resting points every 20 feet or so and enclosures that keep you from falling off. It might never be needed because there is no guarantee that someone will fall off. However, if someone does fall off they probably die.
History shows that corporations will not spend extra money to ensure the safety of their employees unless they are forced to. Even now, there are companies that do a cost-benefit analysis of potential liabilities before they decide to do a recall. If the analysis says that it's cheaper to face potential lawsuits and pay out damages to injured people or their family (if the person is killed) instead of doing the right thing and get the product off the shelves, they keep it out there.
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There are so many problems NOW. Investigate a little deeper into people like Carol Browner's doings outside of the EPA website.
Investigate statistics of pre-OSHA to post you'll notice a trend and the financial loss you probably arent expecting. Rest assure the $$$ is going somewhere, and most of it isnt going to the poor complacent soul it should be going to. Surprising for an entity so small. The answer; make it bigger with more power? No.
Insurance costs sustained from injuries are one of many elements that force a competitive company to regulate itself.
Safety standard inspections can also be privatized. What stops corruption? Simple; uninhibited competition. Unhappy CEOs and stockholders should have had a better product, and nothing should stop them from doing so.
The FDA; its a thread in and of itself. For our own good; its funny how it seems to be limiting my choice on if I want frankenfood or not. Sure there are organic stores out there- so there still is a little FE left in the system. I just find it irritating that the government is stopping private enterprises from providing me with a choice on whether or not I want my green beans spliced with insect killer.
To make a long response somewhat short- free enterprise stimulates innovation and better products. Stockholders want to buy up a company? Well obviously the source didn’t have a problem moving on to other things. Scared of corporate giants . . .have you looked around lately?
If people hate individuals like Bill Gates so much; develop a better product.
www.bls.gov/
http://www.dol.gov/dol/stats.htm
www.nsc.org/