That West Virginia chemical spill? It’s likely a bigger scandal than Bridgegate

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/13/that-west-virginia-chemical-spill-its-likely-a-bigger-scandal-than-bridgegate/



That West Virginia chemical spill? It’s likely a bigger scandal than Bridgegate
By Ana Marie Cox, The Guardian
Monday, January 13, 2014 13:06 EST

If we called West Virginia 4-methylcyclohexane-methanol leak ”Watergate”, do you think the political press would pay more attention?

Hours of cable news time and thousands of words have been spent in search of what ”Bridgegate” means for Chris Christie. An equal and opposite amount of energy has been poured into an examination of what the Christie situation means for Obama.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, there are 300,000 people without useable water, and an unknown number who may fall ill because the warning to avoid the tainted supply came seven hours after the leak was discovered – and perhaps weeks after it happened. (Neighbors of the plant have told reporters they detected the chemical’s odor in December.)

Complaining about desperate news coverage is to call foul on a game that is actually just playing by a different set of rules. I know that. I know, too, that there’s no organized conspiracy, nor even any vague ill will, involved in how it came to be that Bridgegate continues to attract punditry while West Virginia only generates the kind of sympathetic-if-distant coverage we usually grant far-off and not too devastating natural disasters.

[Live and Learn]

1. Hmm let's see. Which is worse, not being able to get your kids to school

or yourself to work or not being able to hydrate them or take a shower? Okay, the water is worse but they are both quite bad and both occurred needlessly. Does it really matter which is worse?

[chervilant]

2. Didn't you read the article?

But my real hope isn’t that we shift our focus from New Jersey to West Virginia, it’s that people realize that both are scandals, and both are environmental policy stories. And they both speak to the costs of letting shortsighted, local economy goals trump more global concerns.

[Live and Learn]

3. Yes, I did.

Think I was trying to make a similar point. Perhaps you didn't read or understand my post.

[chervilant]

5. Apparently not...

I was 'reacting' to

Does it really matter which is worse?

[Live and Learn]

7. Both are pretty bad.

It is not like the choice was between someone leaving the cap off the toothpaste or gawd forbid, someone texting during a movie.

You do realize that for some getting to work on time might be the difference between life and death or at least a good life and death don't you?

[Live and Learn]

4. You know, I understand that most of us here are

realists and by nature a bit skeptical but I really don't see the need to begin each post with negatives such as, "are you an idiot?", do you?

And yes, I am in a particular bad foul tonight. Answered, before anyone dare ask.

[chervilant]

6. It's morning, LaL...

Time for coffee and a crossword puzzle.

Hope you have a better day.

[Live and Learn]

8. I realize that, but moods tend to linger.

Thanks for the good wishes though. Forget the crossword puzzle, I have to go to work. Guess I better leave now in case some politician decides to screw up my life for a laugh.