West explosion probe makes one thing clear: the need for regulation

[white cloud]

The lack of any semblance of a clear answer about the source of the April 17 West explosion adds insult to injury for the families whose lives were turned upside down by the disaster. On Thursday, they learned that the explosion was either caused by a golf cart, an high-voltage electrical problem or deliberate sabotage. Now that investigators have narrowed the possibilities down, I guess everyone can rest easy. Nothing more to see here, folks. Just go on about your business. Come on, now. Move along.

Hundreds lost their homes. Uprooted residents learned that the West Fertilizer Co. lacked proper insurance to cover their losses. They learned that West Fertilizer lacked all kinds of proper safety and security procedures that could have prevented the disaster. They learned that state and federal government inspectors didn’t come close to raising the concerns that they should have regarding the clear dangers posed by West Fertilizer’s storage of thousands of pounds of highly explosive ammonium nitrate on the site.

And their governor, Rick Perry, basically thinks all the problems they’re suffering are really their tough luck — as well as the tough luck of any other community that suffers such devastation in the future at the hands of a private company. The number of people who solidly stand by his shoulder-shrugging response to the West explosion never ceases to amaze me. Perry still hasn’t backed off his position that greater regulation would have done nothing to prevent the West disaster. The argument of Perry and his supporters basically boils down to this: Stuff happens, get over it.


http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/west-explosion-probe-makes-one-thing-clear-the-need-for-regulation.html/

[Buzz Clik]

1. Robberson's editorial was just as uninformed when he published the same misinformation on May 7.

In previous posts of yours, white cloud, I have pointed out his errors and asked questions directly of you and your reasons for repeatedly posting inaccurate material. You never respond.

[DhhD]

2. Thanks White Cloud for posting a variety of peoples beliefs, sources, blogs about the West

events over the past several weeks. We have all been speculating about what happened and how everyone feels about the circumstances. Some expressions from those effected in the first degree may be included as a few of your sources.

Thanks again for your sociology and compassion for others beliefs while keeping the rights of the people in mind. The First Amendment is the right to speak, write and assemble (here). In my opinion, democracy is a representative expression and good faith procedure.

No clear reason has been given for the fire and explosion so we can keep on speculating about what is the correct information.

I am looking forward to more compassion.

[Ilsa]

3. So, their homeowners policies, if they have

Insurance will have to cover them, and the insurance cos will sue the fertilizer co, right? I wonder how many had no insurance?

Is the governor or anyone getting any other relief for these poor people?

Perry et al are as bad as kings of the past, thinking they are better than others because god hasn't allowed shit to happen to them. These problems must be god's will, in his mind.

[ashling]

4. My comment to the DMN editorial

the comment I posted was rather succinct:

I commend your statement ... generally. However, I have some questions about one statement in your editorial: "No sane Republican Party would ever select a candidate who is that dismissive about the unmistakable, gaping holes in federal and state law that led to the West disaster."

What could possibly have given you the impression that there is even a thread of sanity in the fabric of the Republican party?