THIS is the kind of thing that makes GWBush Admin evil...

[Captain Hilts]

Bush Aides Rush to Enact a Safety Rule Obama Opposes

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30labor.html?_r=1&hp

The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze “industry-by-industry evidence” of employees’ exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health.

Public health officials and labor unions said the rule would delay needed protections for workers, resulting in additional deaths and illnesses.

[bluesmail]

1. Can't disagree. n/t

[MadMaddie]

2. It's as if * and his cronies want to to take the US back

to the early 1900's when workers died by the thousands due to unsafe working conditions.

[jimshoes]

3. Those were the "good old days" to that type of

robber baron, carpetbagger scum that couldn't care less about worker's rights or concerns. They view us as fungible commodities. Easily replaceable and not of much value.

[MadMaddie]

4. It is pretty obvious isn't it?

[tbyg52]

5. Yeah, but it's not that they want people dead, necessarily -

all they want is money and power for them and their cronies. They don't care about the people one way or the other. Which means the people get screwed, of course, but that's just bidness.... :wrf:

[ColbertWatcher]

6. So, which corporation will exploit this to avoid paying for an employee's death? n/t

[NOW tense]

7. Halliburton

Halliburton owns asbestos.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Ah, yes. There it is. n/t

[NOW tense]

9. Coal is number 2

DOW chemical #3

[ColbertWatcher]

12. All GOP darlings. n/t

[KT2000]

10. More CEO love

This is called cost shifting.

Corporations do not have to pay for the illnesses they cause since they fire the sick and get them off the insurance rolls. They do not foot the bill for communities sickened by corporate pollution either.

There is no bottom line for the vaue of a human life since it is not their concern.
To me - this is grounds for terminating corporate charters at the state level.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. "terminating corporate charters at the state level." Great idea! n/t