Tighten Your Bronchioles: You're in the O-Zone

As expected, President Obama has caved to his CEO buddies, and big business "job creators", and his boss John Boehner, and canned the EPA's new clean air standards.  Demanding respiratory health in an economic recession is just asking too much of the corporation persons, said the president in a Friday news dump.


In his usual biparti-speak style, Obama said he is committed to clean air, just not at this time, and certainly not at the expense of the peace of mind of the business community.  Just hold on, try to breathe the ozone until 2013, and he'll look at reducing pollution levels then.  After the campaign, after those same businesses have donated about a billion into his war chest.


I guess Malia and Sasha don't have asthma.  They don't live in inner cities, where substandard housing, mold and pollution are major contributors in raising the childhood asthma rate to historic levels.  The EPA estimates that without the tough new pollution standards that are now shelved, thousands more people will die of asthma attacks and exacerbation of respiratory diseases every year.  Emergency room visits will skyrocket. American morbidity and mortality rates will rise even further up the list of most unhealthy third world countries. Global warming is making pollution worse.


Way to go, Barry.  Have a cigarette with your pal Boehner and maybe you'll feel better.  And don't forget to ignore the hundreds of Tar Sands pipeline protesters getting arrested in your front yard either.






What a Drag