Move along,
there’s nothing to see here
By Hank
Silverberg
What was in the news this week? Let’s see, President Trump ditched our long-standing
allies like a hot potato at the G-7 Summit
and went off to meet with North
Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un, that volcano is reshaping the coast line of
Hawaii’s big island, and the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup.
Certainly, those were all news stories. But we also heard a lot from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and plenty of speculation about what Bob Mueller is doing or not doing in the Russia investigation. Much of that information was inside politics.
Here are some stories you may have missed. The ones that got lost in all the screaming, pontificating and speculation about the others. There was some reporting on them, but the current government would like you to ignore them while much of the media is distracted by the reality show at the White House.
Let’s start at the growing disaster area formally known as the Environmental Protection Agency. Newsweek, the highly regarded news magazine that has been around since 1933, reported:
Certainly, those were all news stories. But we also heard a lot from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and plenty of speculation about what Bob Mueller is doing or not doing in the Russia investigation. Much of that information was inside politics.
Here are some stories you may have missed. The ones that got lost in all the screaming, pontificating and speculation about the others. There was some reporting on them, but the current government would like you to ignore them while much of the media is distracted by the reality show at the White House.
Let’s start at the growing disaster area formally known as the Environmental Protection Agency. Newsweek, the highly regarded news magazine that has been around since 1933, reported:
“The
Environmental Protection Agency will not consider the health risks and impacts
of asbestos already in the environment when evaluating the dangers associated
with the chemical compound.”
This means that asbestos used in tiles,
pipping, adhesives and insulation for decades in homes and offices will remain
unchecked, even though 15,000 Americans die each year from diseases related to asbestos.
The EPA also announced it would evaluate and require approval for NEW uses for the substance and would not include the health risks of asbestos already in the environment. That includes proper disposal. Fifty-five countries have banned the use of asbestos.
Why is this being done? Newsweek quotes Donald Trump’s 1997 book, The Art of the Comeback.
The EPA also announced it would evaluate and require approval for NEW uses for the substance and would not include the health risks of asbestos already in the environment. That includes proper disposal. Fifty-five countries have banned the use of asbestos.
Why is this being done? Newsweek quotes Donald Trump’s 1997 book, The Art of the Comeback.
“I believe that the movement against asbestos was led
by the mob, because it was often mob-related companies that would do the
asbestos removal. Great pressure was put on politicians, and as usual, the
politicians relented.”
The decision came from EPA administrator Scott
Pruitt, who is facing 12 separate federal investigations into his spending and
management practices since he took office 18 months ago.
There were other stories that may have been burned up by lava or frozen by hockey mania.
The AP, CBS and a few other outlets reported a reversal in policy on Obamacare from President Trump. Throughout the campaign and the whole debate on abolishing or modifying the healthcare system, Mr. Trump promised the ban on dropping those with pre-existing conditions would remain in any new health care plan.
Now the Justice Department has announced it will no longer defend that part of the existing plan in court, giving insurance companies pretty much free reign to dump people off their rolls or refuse to sign them up, with no regard to a pre-existing condition.
There were other stories that may have been burned up by lava or frozen by hockey mania.
The AP, CBS and a few other outlets reported a reversal in policy on Obamacare from President Trump. Throughout the campaign and the whole debate on abolishing or modifying the healthcare system, Mr. Trump promised the ban on dropping those with pre-existing conditions would remain in any new health care plan.
Now the Justice Department has announced it will no longer defend that part of the existing plan in court, giving insurance companies pretty much free reign to dump people off their rolls or refuse to sign them up, with no regard to a pre-existing condition.
Next,
there was Education Secretary Betsy Devos, who is now heading a School Safety
Commission set up after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The
commission is supposed to study what can be done to stop school violence.
Devos was on Capitol Hill to testify before a senate subcommittee about her 2019 budget request. She was pressed repeatedly about whether the commission would look at gun laws as part of that study. She said the panel would examine 27 different issues around school safety but would not elaborate. They will look at gun violence she said,but will not look at gun laws. (That seems totally contradictory)
Devos was on Capitol Hill to testify before a senate subcommittee about her 2019 budget request. She was pressed repeatedly about whether the commission would look at gun laws as part of that study. She said the panel would examine 27 different issues around school safety but would not elaborate. They will look at gun violence she said,but will not look at gun laws. (That seems totally contradictory)
We also heard a lot this week about the
politics of tariffs. Much of the discussion centered on what American tariffs
and retaliation for them would do to trade relations with long time allies. But little has been said about the impact on
you and me. It could hurt
 |
| (Tapping Maple Syrup) |
I chose to briefly recap all these stories
this week as a warning. While official Washington and cable networks are busy
watching Rudy Giuliani, Michael Cohen and Bob Mueller, and the politics of
tariffs rather than the impact, the Trump administration has been destroying
decades of economic gains and social progress. It is slowly dismantling environmental
protections and what’s left of Obamacare, giving nothing but lip service to gun
violence and wiping out the jobs and the economic lively hood of thousands of
Americans. Our current Congress is doing
little to stop it, and in some cases encouraging it. Check out the links above and
read more about it. These are all things you should remember at the ballot box in
November.
(You may order my latest book at Amazon.com, BN.Com or hanksilverbergbooks.com or if you want it cheaper and with a signature, leave me a message here and I will tell you how to get a copy)
Book synopsis:
The Vice-President of the United States is conflicted. She has risen to her current job by jumping on the bandwagon with President Andrew Freeman who is now, waging war against America’s biggest enemy—Iran. Amy Roosevelt must make a decision whether to stay with Freeman or challenge him for the nomination. Though back channels she learns that the President’s health is declining. As Roosevelt ponders her decision, a conservative back bench Congressman from Missouri breaks out of the wanna-bees in the other party and also decides to run. All this plays out as the man known only as Ishmael, continues his campaign of violence.
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