After Plant Explosion, Texas Remains Wary of Regulation

[liberal N proud]

WEST, Tex. — Five days after an explosion at a fertilizer plant leveled a wide swath of this town, Gov. Rick Perry tried to woo Illinois business officials by trumpeting his state’s low taxes and limited regulations. Asked about the disaster, Mr. Perry responded that more government intervention and increased spending on safety inspections would not have prevented what has become one of the nation’s worst industrial accidents in decades.

“Through their elected officials,” he said, Texans “clearly send the message of their comfort with the amount of oversight.”

This antipathy toward regulations is shared by many residents here. Politicians and economists credit the stance with helping attract jobs and investment to Texas, which has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, and with winning the state a year-after-year ranking as the nation’s most business friendly.

Even in West, last month’s devastating blast did little to shake local skepticism of government regulations. Tommy Muska, the mayor, echoed Governor Perry in the view that tougher zoning or fire safety rules would not have saved his town. “Monday morning quarterbacking,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/us/after-plant-explosion-texas-remains-wary-of-regulation.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130510&_r=0#h[]




What does it take to convice people that regulations are necessary for safety? How many towns must be blown from the map?

[rucky]

1. Stupid and stubborn is a lethal combination. n/t

[burnodo]

2. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022823846

[geek tragedy]

3. Ideology trumps concern for human life there. nt

[Cooley Hurd]

4. The Corporate Media tells them that regulation is bad for the economy...

And they follow like the lemmings they are. Of course, they forget what happened to the lemmings in the end.

[RKP5637]

5. Yep, and same with many things, too many Americans are

lemmings and guppies ... trained to not think for themselves and blindly follow the mandated propaganda to their own or others demise.