The Affordable Care Act

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by Charles

I wouldn't say you're all fucked up, but you may be over reacting.

Having never heard of the SS Badger I did a little research, and apparently she is the last large coal fired ship in the United States. She is also a registered historical site. And the owners have already agreed to stop dumping coal ash, which she apparently was allowed to do by the EPA for some time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Badger

She's the last one, and her problems are being addressed. Now this in no way indicates that there aren't further steps which need to be taken concerning pollution, but in the big scheme of things the Badger is a non issue. She won't be around much longer. She truly is the end of an era.

You're getting your wish, and while I can't speak for Pete, do not mistake me for someone who advocates pollution. I share the same goals as you, only I have more patience. And in my humble estimation things are getting much better.

Chas

The problem is being addressed...my ass.

She won't be around much longer...yep, today and every day another 4 tons of coal ash are dumped into Lake Michigan. Over-reacting...my ass. Non-issue...my ass. Maybe it's a non-issue for you...it is not for the residents of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan who have been fighting this disgrace for years. She should have been the end of an era 30 years ago. And Chas...y'know why the Badger is the only one left? Because Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake wholly within US boundaries. There aren't any others because Canada hasn't allowed it in any of the Great Lakes within their purview for years. Icon...my ass. Icon of poison and political bullshit.

The owners of the Badger were ordered to upgrade their system to diesel, natural gas, or any other system outside of coal that would not require the daily dumping of poison into Lake Michigan years ago. And every time they bumped up against the deadline, they appealed to the State of Michigan that it would put them in bankruptcy and cost the Ludington area over a million dollars in related business income and, of course, 100 or so jobs. It's always jobs isn't it. Nothing matters in this country but jobs. The government and politicians and people of Canada long ago recognized that certain things, like potable water, are more important than jobs. So every time the owners began whining about jobs, the State of Michigan went pleading to the EPA, and Michigan Republicans exerted their political muscle in Congress to extend the deadline, and the EPA relented. It's been years now...I'll believe it when I see it.