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Glad Illinois has some regulations

Glad Illinois has some regulations

Recently Texas Gov. Rick Perry was in Illinois trying to entice corporations to move there by touting their lack of regulations. One of the main purposes of government is to do for the citizens what they cannot do for themselves, which includes protecting the public health and protecting citizens from ruthless, greedy, impersonal corporations. That is why cities, states and the federal government have laws and regulations.

Your news story of the Texas plant that exploded, killing 14 people and injuring more than 200, had only $1 million insurance policy reinforced the “wild, wild west” approach Texas takes to protecting its citizens. It’s apparently an “every man for himself” philosophy of government The families of the dead and injured are left up a creek without a paddle because the government of Texas’ only interest is in protecting the corporations, not its citizens.

As the lawyer for the claimants tellingly said, “The plant’s owner will ask the judge to divide the insurance money among the (many) plaintiffs ... and then file for bankruptcy ... It’s rare for Texas to require insurance for any kind of hazardous activity. We have very little oversight of hazardous activities and even less regulation.”

This is something Perry is proud of? Only corporations as irresponsible as the fertilizer company would locate there. I’m glad Illinois protects us with our regulations.

Jean Alberti

Aurora

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