One of our senators, Richard Burr, is up to no good. He wants to combine the Environmental Protection Agency with the Department of Energy in a move that should make everyone scream: WHAT THE FUCK IS HE THINKING?
Of course, in his latest e-mail to his constituents, he droned on and on (and on) about Osama bin Laden — whose demise he didn’t have anything to do with, but failed to mention that he’d love it if the EPA burned in hell, too.
‘Cuz, you know, who needs clean air and water when you can have cancer instead? Sell that to your children’s children.
Don’t doubt for one second that this is all about giant corporations and seriously rich individuals screwing us commoners so they will make more money. And never forget this: The people in power do not care about you, your health or your family. If you don’t stand up for yourself, they surely won’t.
From the Institute of Southern Studies:
A group of Senate Republicans led by Richard Burr of North Carolina wants to combine the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy into one agency. They claim the merger would save money — but a deeper look at the plan and its backers raises questions about other, dirtier motives.“This common-sense approach will reduce duplicative and wasteful functions across these two agencies and streamline our approach to a comprehensive, coordinated energy and environmental policy,” Burr said in a statement.
But some experts are questioning the claim that the move is simply about cost savings. They include Joe Romm, a physicist and climate expert who formerly served as acting assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy.
And it turns out that Burr and many of his 15 bill co-sponsors — all of whom have questioned the scientific consensus on human-driven climate change, as the Wonk Room blog points out — are deeply indebted to dirty energy interests.
According to the Dirty Energy Money database created by Oil Change International, a group that advocates for cleaner energy policies, Burr has received over $880,000 from coal and oil interests over the course of his career. His top five dirty energy donors are North Carolina-based electric utility giant Duke Energy, electric and gas holding company SCANA Corp. of South Carolina, Virginia power provider Dominion Resources, Ohio-based mining corporation Murray Energy and Kansas-based private energy conglomerate Koch Industries.
Further reading, with some examples of why we need to strengthen the EPA:
Report: Duke University study links shale gas fracking to well contamination Read more: Report: Duke University study links shale gas fracking to well contamination — Charlotte Business Journal
Walker, GOP reversing green initiatives — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Arrest made in probe of Jones County wastewater treatment plant records –EyeWitness News 9 (Greenville, Jacksonville, New Bern, Washington)
Industrial dumping prompts federal concern — Columbia, S.C.’s The State
Warning issued on eating popular saltwater fish — Also from The State
Coal ash debate illustrates political shift in Congress — The Jackson Sun
City water officials can’t find source of iodine in water — Philadelphia Inquirer
Climate disasters hit poor children — Independent News & Media
Portable filter paper laced with silver nanoparticles cleans dirty water — Environmental Health News
Watchdog criticizes feds for pulling back on radiation monitoring — California Watch
MP3 players found to emit excessive radiation — Shanghai Daily
Man accused of murdering wife suffered metal toxicity, court told — Nanaimo Daily News
And that’s just a few of the environmental news headlines from the past couple days.
UPDATE:
White House opposes combining Energy Department and EPA — Politico.com
This article appears in May 10-16, 2011.
“And never forget this: The people in power do not care about you, your health or your family. If you don’t stand up for yourself, they surely won’t.”
Exactly right, so why would you entrust them to have even more power over your life for the supposed purpose of protecting the environment? (Or keeping you safe, or drug prohibition, or financial regulation, etc)
BV,
Watch out you’re gonna make RFB’s purdy li’l head explode with your silly LOGIC.
RFB, please cite the Article and Section of the Constitution which grants federal power over EITHER energy or the environment.
So you two are advocating for anarchy now? Are you suggesting the author, who is beautiful not “purty,” not bring this issue to our attention so we can pretend its not happening. You’re both moronic rednecks who need to start using your real names, get a life, and your own blog. Not than anyone wants to read your ridiculous nonsense.
Rhi thank you for bringing our senator’s actions to our attention.
Oh sure, because to patronizing idiots like you, the constitution is the only law and we should all sit on our hands. Not that anyone could take cowards like you two seriously.
It’s pretty hilarious conservitard drones like “Juan” here think the Constitution has anything to say about energy or the environment one way or the other.
Sorry, think was the wrong word… those types are completely incapable of independent thought. I guess there’s a certain comfort in being part of a collective thought.
*though
Anarchy? Cowards? And I’m sure JZ is your real name, right?
The Constitution if followed would keep the federal gov’t from running every part of your life. There are enumerated powers, few and defined. I’m suggesting that the author has made the point that looking to the feds to take care of us is foolish, while simultaneously claiming that they must. How can you miss that?
This is not R vs. D or Conservative vs. Liberal, it is principle vs. party line.