Environment and Health
Mining Gold, Undermining Democracy
A tribunal in Washington, D.C. that nobody elected recently issued a verdict that will potentially constrain the democratic rights of millions of people. Its three members ruled that a foreign company may continue to sue El Salvador for not letting the company mine gold there. The impoverished Central American country could potentially be forced to pay a Canadian mining company called Pacific Rim $77 million or more in damages
Clearing the Air
Here’s some good news: the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new rule that would make coal-fired power plant operators clean up their act. It would block up to 123 billion pounds of carbon pollution annually from entering our skies by limiting emissions from next-generation power plants.
Blowing a Chance to Save American Jobs
The Production Tax Credit helps level the playing field for clean-energy entrepreneurs competing with subsidized fossil-fuel companies. It backs the innovative wind energy companies here in America that helped build a manufacturing base that didn’t exist only five years ago. This tax credit supports our nation’s transition away from dirty fuels that harm our health and our air.
What Medical Mistakes?
Estimates vary, but every year an average of 195,000 Americans die from medical errors. These acts aren’t done on purpose — they are screw-ups, often dealing with medication. Other hundreds of thousands are annually injured. Surely, you say, Washington and the state capitals must be working feverishly to sort all this out.
We Can’t Afford Energy Subsidies and Tax Breaks
Last year, the top six U.S. oil companies made $148.7 billion in profits. That works out to about $407 million a day, $17 million an hour, or $283,000 per minute. At that pace, in roughly the amount of time it will take to read this commentary, just these six oil companies will have earned about $3 million in profits. Not revenues, profits.
Passing the Top Hat
Our Ruinous Game
The apparent suicide of Junior Seau, the former NFL superstar linebacker, has again raised the age-old question: “Is playing football dangerous, as in potentially lethal?”
Abortion Politics
You have to hand it to the Catholic bishops. They not only define abortion, but also birth control, as murder. And they’re willing to pin the very future of their Church to this arcane belief. Sounds a bit like the Republican Party.
A More Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift
Americans love Mother’s Day. We love it so much that we’re collectively shelling out about $19 billion this year on gifts, special meals, and cards. But when it comes to educating our kids about how most women become mothers, we’re much less conscientious. Too many of our children aren’t learning about the connection between sex and parenthood before it’s too late. That means they lack the tools that help them avoid pregnancy until they are ready to be parents.
A Watered-Down Education
Joe Camel. Ronald McDonald. Tony the Tiger. Spuds McKenzie. Kid-friendly advertising tricks by corporations seeking to lure young consumers clutter the annals of marketing history.
