It’s a potent neurotoxicant: the expression “mad as a hatter” emerged in the 19th century because hat makers of the time treated fur with mercury compounds, and often suffered nerve and mental damage as a result. ... Paul Krugman, NYT
Paul Krugman says what he wanted for Christmas, among other things, he got. At least in part. The EPA's new rules on mercury. As he points out, mercury has been known to be damaging to the mind for well over a century, and now -- finally -- we're removing the risk from the stuff power plants emit in significant quantities.
The Republicans, he reports, are "furious." One is tempted to suppose that living near a power plant may be what makes people Republicans in the first place. Something had to make them as crazy as they are:
... A lot of mercury gets into the atmosphere from old coal-burning power plants that lack modern pollution controls. From there it gets into the water, where microbes turn it into methylmercury, which builds up in fish. And what happens then? The E.P.A. explains: “Methylmercury exposure is a particular concern for women of childbearing age, unborn babies and young children, because studies have linked high levels of methylmercury to damage to the developing nervous system, which can impair children’s ability to think and learn.” ...Paul Krugman, NYT
It's not just the Republicans' insanity that we'd be glad to get rid of. How about prevalent breathing problems and the uptick in heart disease? These and more are attributable to the particulates escaping from power plants into our air. Even the economy gets a boost.
... The payoff to the new rules is huge: up to $90 billion a year in benefits compared with around $10 billion a year of costs in the form of slightly higher electricity prices. This is, as David Roberts of Grist says, a very big deal. ...Paul Krugman, NYT
But most of all, we get past the mindless politics -- the barriers put up by the opposition to cleaning up our air. At least for a few months.
... Mindless opposition to “job killing” regulations is now part of what it means to be a Republican. And I have to admit that this puts something of a damper on my mood: the E.P.A. has just done a very good thing, but if a Republican — any Republican — wins next year’s election, he or she will surely try to undo this good work. ...Paul Krugman, NYT
