John Cole over at Balloon Juice has a post up today, Why Do Republicans Hate Clean Water?. He first mentions how Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) last night talking about totally gutting the EPA. He then wrote:
As chance would have it, today in my post office box (another government service that I absolutely cherish) there was a piece of mail from the local public service department, where I get my water. It was an annual EPA required report, detailing in clear English, where my water comes from. Half of it is treated surface water from the Ohio River, the rest is from deep wells along the banks of the river. The report outlined backup plans should the Ohio become contaminated (more and more likely as Pennsylvania allows drillers to simply dump whatever the fuck they want in the water), and then went on and provided the annual data on the level of contaminants in my drinking water.
That got me thinking about all the information like this my town has sent me the past few months. Do other folks here get this level of detail? Do people read it? And maybe most of all, why does it seem Republicans don't want their fellow citizens to have access to this type of data.
I've written more than a little about the little rural town I live in of 5,500 people. It is both a strange and cool place at the same time. Strange in that we voted 57% for McCain over Obama and I live in Illinois. While in the same election we voted 63% to raise our property taxes to build a new $60M high school. Heck about six years ago we voted to raise business taxes to build a food pantry and purchase, tear down some run-down buildings, and I kid you not build a few parks on Main Street.
Often in the comments somebody will say they live in a progressive community and they'd rather live where I live. I am never sure if that is true, but the more I think about it maybe I am blessed with where I live and I and don't really realize it.
Now back to what John Cole said. In the past six months my city has sent me the following letters/reports:
1. A water report similar to what John mentioned. I have really clean water.
2. A letter outlining the city was going to take part of our $2.5M budget surplus from last year to run new water lines down Main Street and replace every fire hydrant.
3. A report on the quality of our air. I have clean air.
4. A very detailed letter outlining the co-op where we get our power, and the need for the city to upgrade our transformers to continue to get our power from them and the fact it will cost $1.7M. A number of meetings, opened to the pubic of course, will be held to talk about what this means, alternatives, and to gather citizens input.
5. And maybe coolest of all my city secured a $750,000 federal grant (with some matching funds) to wire City Hall (so also the fire and police departments), all the schools, and our community center with fiber optics. Also included in the grant are funds to conduct a feasibility study to determine the business advantages of wiring our entire city with fiber.
I just find stuff like this to be cool. Now I know most people that get these letters don't care. They might not read them. But I do! Others must. Heaven forbid we have educated citizens. Plus since they are sent out with our power and water bill, it can't really cost that much more money.
Now in the intro to this diary I asked this question:
Why does it seem Republicans don't want their fellow citizens to have access to this type of data.
Of course I know why. They don't want educated citizens. I find educated citizens might not always be progressive, but they are not far right either. Either moderates or liberals. Funny how that works isn't it! So if you educate citizens, and they don't vote for the GOP, why would they want any policy in place that helps citizens understand the world around them.
In John's post, or really a mini-rant he says this is what is wrong with the MSM. They would rather say we want regulations via the EPA while the GOP doesn't want EPA regulations that kill jobs.
That isn't what this debate is about. But it is how they frame it 99 percent of the time.
So tell me about where you live. Does your community, well communicate with you? Do they try to foster educated citizens? I love to now!