Fear is Why Workers in Red States Vote Against Their Economic Self-Interest

[Crewleader]

Fear is Why Workers in Red States Vote Against Their Economic Self-Interest

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

by Robert Reich

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Last week’s massive spill of the toxic chemical MCHM into West Virginia’s Elk River illustrates another benefit to the business class of high unemployment, economic insecurity, and a safety-net shot through with holes. Not only are employees eager to accept whatever job they can get. They are also also unwilling to demand healthy and safe environments.

The spill was the region’s third major chemical accident in five years, coming after two investigations by the federal Chemical Safety Board in the Kanawha Valley, also known as “Chemical Valley,” and repeated recommendations from federal regulators and environmental advocates that the state embrace tougher rules to better safeguard chemicals.

No action was ever taken. State and local officials turned a deaf ear. The storage tank that leaked, owned by Freedom Industries, hadn’t been inspected for decades.

But nobody complained.

http://robertreich.org/post/73471886666

[MisterP]

1. fear makes a clientelistic system stronger: they don't call him King Coal for his dominance alone