Jim Rowen over at his Political Environment blog has a great post on the total inconsistency of Scott Walker's decision to sign a bill interfering with asbestos-exposure lawsuits, given what else the state has been up to with regard to the highly dangerous mineral. Go to the URL below to read his deft analysis.
Then look at the map here, which shows asbestos-driven mortality across the US. It was prepared based on an analysis of federal data by EWG Action Fund. It shows deaths from mesothelioma or asbestosis as reported to the federal government via death certificate records from 1979 through 2001. It's hard to see on this smaller version of the map, but each dot represents one asbestos-related death. Note that the map likely represents less than 20 percent of total asbestos mortality during that period.
Nationally, at least 43,073 people were killed by asbestos in those years, and more certainly have suffered and even died since 2001. The map doesn't count illnesses, deaths or the added impact on our returned military veterans who encounterd the substance while serving elsewhere in the military. State veterans groups strongly opposed the bill that Republicans pushed through the legislature and Walker signed it quickly. Others fighting the bill included Democrats and other interested parties. But no matter. The GOP heavily supported the bill, apparently because it dings trial lawyers, whom Republicans treat as boogeymen without exception. How dare anyone sue when they or a loved one suffers pain or death through product negligence?
Obviously, this map shows many hotspots in Wisconsin. Take a look and you'll agree: In more ways than one, unfortunately, Wisconsin is a red state.
It makes you wonder whether the brains of Walker and other Republicans who voted to weaken asbestos lawsuits might not already be full of noxious asbestos fibers, given the quality of their decision-making.
This is about your life and your body, so be informed. And consider being vocal about awful public policy-making of this kind.
