Why Corporations Prefer State Regulation

And the 1% responsible for these disasters have bought the media and bamboozled enough of the public to make “government regulation” a dirty word.

(PORTLAND) - Within the past two months, several major environmental disasters have exposed the failure of state regulators, who serve the corporations they “regulate” as their clients, to protect the lives and health of the public. In most cases, state regulators are executive branch agencies reporting to governors and subject to oversight by state legislatures. To wit:

1) Oregon’s Dept of Transportation allowed BNSF, Genesee & Wyoming, Union Pacific and every other railroad to keep secret information about the oil trains they sent through the state. In 2013, about 11,000 oil cars were sent to a Clatskanie terminal alone.

2) North Carolina’s North Carolina Dept of Environment and Natural Resources allowed Duke Power to pour toxic coal ash into its Dan and Cape Fear rivers.

3) West Virginia’s Dept of Environmental Protection allowed Freedom Industries to spew their cancer-causing chemicals into its Elk river.

4) Washington’s Dept of Natural Resources allowed Grandy Lake Forest (a foreign company) to clear cut right above the massive Oso mudslide that has just killed at least 30 people.

And the 1% responsible for these disasters have bought the media and bamboozled enough of the public to make “government regulation” a dirty word.

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Portland Tribune photo by L.E. Baskow

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Michael Munk tries to glean important but overlooked items from the world media on the issues of the day and posts them on an irregular schedule. Although items can overlap, he also maintains separate lists for activists in Portland, Oregon and the Northwest, and special lists for: Labor, Latin America, Israel, Torture Taxis, Korea, and the Czech Republic.

Michael is a highly praised writer from an important generation whose book, the Portland Red Guide, has received high praise.

"City Commissioner Nick Fish gave me a copy. Sat down on my sofa and couldn't put it down until I finished. Fascinating!"
-- Tom Potter, Mayor of Portland 2005-2009

"Whoop! Whoop! I'm impressed by how many names from Portland's past have not made it into our official histories and public memorials. Some were good friends of mine. Local history is too often overlooked. Good work, Mike."
-- Bud Clark, Saloon keeper, Goose Hollow Inn, and Mayor of Portland, 1985–1992

Visit the new photo gallery on Michael's website: www.michaelmunk.com