Forum Post: Nice little police state we got going on here...
Posted 12 years ago on June 16, 2012, 9:23 a.m. EST by commonsensefolks
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EPA’s scary-air sniffers
The green agency’s emissions mission gets personal
Americans on their way to work or school may soon be reaching for a new high-tech device as they head out the door - a personal air-quality monitor. That’s the vision of bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who are trying to develop a portable sniffer that measures the body’s reactions to pollution in the air. It’s bound to take fear-mongering to a new level.
On June 6, the EPA announced “My Air, My Health Challenge” in a call for inventors to compete for cash prizes in building the best air monitors. “The system must link air-pollutant concentrations with physiological data, provide geocoded and time-stamped files in an easy-to-use format, and transmit this data via existing networks to a central data repository provided by EPA and HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services],” the agency instructs.
In other words, the gadget must analyze the nasty gases the wearer inhales, measure his vital signs in response to them, and then transmit the data wirelessly to government computers. The monitor must contain a wearable sensor weighing not more than 10.6 ounces - light enough for children to carry.
Contestants have until Oct. 5 to submit their proposals. Four finalists will receive $15,000 awards to fund assembly of working prototypes. The first-place winner will pocket $100,000, courtesy of the taxpayers. Intellectual property rights and royalties from this device, however, will revert to Uncle Sam.
* Not content to monitor ground-level pollution, the EPA has also begun deploying eyes in the skies over Nebraska and Iowa to detect water contamination caused by cattle ranchers. The agency recently acknowledged using aerial surveillance and photography to detect runoff from livestock manure befouling streams.
Sen. Mike Johanns, Nebraska Republican, joined with other members of the state’s Washington delegation recently in sending a letter of complaint to EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “They are just way on the outer limits of any authority they’ve been granted,” Mr. Johanns told the Omaha World-Herald. On Tuesday, the senator introduced an amendment to the farm bill that would ban the practice.
EPA defended itself earlier this month by saying the surveillance falls within the enforcement duties of the Clean Water Act, and similar aerial photography has been ruled permissible by the Supreme Court.
It’s unlikely, however, the justices ever imagined their decisions would unleash legions of regulators dedicated to controlling Americans’ behavior. In particular, the high court’s 2007 ruling that granted the EPA authority to treat as a pollutant carbon dioxide - a gas found in nature that is essential to all life on Earth - opened a Pandora’s box of regulations.
Radical environmental schemes like the invention of personal scary-air monitors are sure to inflame the fears of those who have already been rendered hypersensitive to life’s dangers, real and imagined. The fact is the air Americans breathe is cleaner and clearer today than it has been in decades. If Americans buy in to the EPA’s plan to equip us with personal-pollution sniffers, gone from the Land of the Free will be the sweet air of liberty.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/12/epas-scary-air-sniffers/
* And more about EPA's new surveillance flights being flown (not drones YET, but in the plans) over the U.S. at:
You mentioned that "the air Americans breathe is cleaner and clearer today than it has been in decades" . You do realize this is because of your guy Nixons EPA right.? Are you aware of the smog and pollution running rampant before Nixons EPA and anti pollution legislation improved things. Do you remember the rivers that caught fire.? We need the EPA! Or corp 1% industrial forces will destroy our water, air, and land for the almighty profit. The personal monitors don't bother me. The drones are a little scary but are we against the govt checking on industry with helicopters? Or is it just the ease, and low cost of drones we are against.?
It's the coming big brother I fear. While you're all for democrats and the iron fist of the EPA, I wonder how you're going to like it when republicans get in office and start exercising their power, because you're setting the benchmarks and precedents right now for overreach by any bureaucrat who feels they need to "protect you". It's not going to end here pal.
I am against govt intrusion in my private life. Don't like cameras on the streets, object to laws covering the bedroom activity, certainly against laws against womens right to choose, don't like the idea of domestic drones targeting citizens. I do know however the corps must be watched and well regulated or they will destroy our air, water, and land/food in the name of profit. We have to stay vigilant and not let it go to far. Of course it already has in the name of national security and the endless war on terror. You think that was Dems? Or was that fear mongering right wing wacko repubs?
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Wahhhh! Wah! Wahhh! Time for your nap I think Jeff.
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Is that you Jeff? Threatening to beat me up again? How you gonna do that? You don't know who or where I am?
If your computer slows down - log-out and run a system scan/cleaner.
Ahh I can see you now. It seems fine. do you think he can get in?
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Ok. We'll see. Did you go after DKA's computer?
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Alright Sally. I different login might be more scary. but not likely.
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You are out of control! Reminiscent of that scene when T3 falls into the vat of molten metal and all the faces emerge as the terminator melts. Remember? Ahh good times.
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I disagree!
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Please. This is childish.
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That sounds like a threat. You wouldn't be the 1st to try and fail to sneak up me.
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so you can't take me alone? Your gonna gang up on me.? I suppose I should expect that a right wing wacko would not fight fair. Why do you wanna beat me up?
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Whether the EPA has done some good things is not at issue. The EPA has been granted far more LEGISLATIVE power than any agency should have. Their regualtions should be presented to Congress for a vote. They are a micro dictatorship.
They serve an important purpose. As long as the right wing wackos and the corp 1% are against them I know they are doing the right thing. Lookin out for the health and well being of the 99%. Isn't that a good thing.? Thank you tricky Dick.!
Again, they serve a purpose but should not have the legislative powers they have usurped.
Why don't you ditch the insults and discuss the point of my previous and current post? I am hardly a right wing wacko or a tricky dick.
No wonder you have been coming under attack on this forum.
I thanked tricky Dick Nixon for creating the EPA. No insult towards you intended. Right wing wacko Is not aimed at you but the right wing who is against the epa. So whatever your previous post, I support the EPA 'cause they protect us. And they must be doing something right 'cause they've made the right enemies. They should get more power if it would upset the right wing wackos (not you) and the corp 1%. Who is attacking me?
Wow. I apologize for misunderstanding you. So easy to do based on the written word. As for attacks, seems I saw a thread devoted to you in a rather insulting way last wk. Again, sorry, but you still never addressed my point about govt agencies writing laws. That's sorta what Congress and Executive Orders are for.
Wherever we can (legally) get protection from the 1% corp criminals is welcomed. Congress should pass laws protecting us but the repubs proudly trumpet right wing policies and dems cave in to the right and betray their left wing constituents. So we have to take extraordinary measures. They attacks are silly, childish, unfounded, and simply seek to silence me.
Unlike Congress or Executive Orders, EPA regulations require public input before any regulation is considered. Its a more democratic process.
Are you familiar with their authoritarian actions against citizens regarding wetlands? Google it. Some real horror stories. In fact a friend of mine here is in trouble over filling in some land of hers that was low and took poisonous runoff from the farm across the road.
Are you familiar with how important wetlands are? Not just for local ecosystems but as a very efficient carbon sink? Up until very recently in history wetlands have been filled in and covered over as a general practice. The number of wetlands has decreased to a level that is frightening.
If it takes authoritarian action to keep people from doing irreparable damage to the ecosystem then so be it. We live in a society that feels entitled to piss on whatever we feel like no matter what kind of long term damage is wrought.
You'd have to see her land to appreciate the absurdity.
No doubt you are familiar with the family somewhere out west that bought a lot in a developer's subdivision that already had utilities hookup and are now facing $75k./day fines? EPA wants them to plant wetlands plants and let it sit for 5 yrs, then maybe they can build. Meanwhile their tab is in the millions. Seems the developer should be liable, not this blindsided family. Kinda wonder how a little city lot out of several acre subdivison can rate this attention .
Again, not arguing their goals, just their means.
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Silly rabbit. You don't scare me!
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Are you a libertarian?
I supported Ronnie based on the choices this cycle. I consider myself (and vote like) an Independent. On this forum it makes me a right wing wacko-troll :-)
Nah, I'm an Independent also. But you don't see me using Ron Pauls name as my handle. Ron Paul is a whacko.
Oh, most of my handles here are based on sarcasm. You remember when they had some sort of filter that changed his name when you typed it in? If promoting smaller govt, states rights (we are a federated nation of states) and ending the war on drugs is wacko, then I guess I know my next name when this one gets banned!
I enjoy clean air, clean water, and safe ground to have a home and kids.... standards for the food I eat and products that are sold. That doesn't happen with a small government, nor does it happen uniformly with state governments.
It was the state governments that folded, caved, and gave in to the banks to repeal the Usury lending laws on the books. This allowed the banks to promote Credit Cards and other debt instruments that directly attacked consumer savings. States rights was pretty much settled during the Civil War with hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
Or you anti-government?
Dissatisfied with govt and direction this country is headed. Glad I am older. Not just the money thing, also the police/nanny state.
Do you agree with Grover Norquist's statement. I paraphrase -- we should shrink the government down to the size that it can be drowned in a bathtub. Should we privatize everything? What would check us against the power of individual tyranny? Do you want corporations with unlimited power?
Heavens no, do you?
Hell no.
in fact the rules of big business and global control. just another example of EPA's "good" side: Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide, despite own scientists' red flags http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Mrm9Y6khk&feature=player_embedded#!
How dare they try to monitor pollution and the effects it has on human life!
Damn authoritarian control freaks. It's my life, my planet... I shall piss on it as I feel fit. FREEEEDDDOOOOOM! (storm off stage with flag in hand)
That's right! We should all have monitoring devices on our bodies to help save the planet, even though those devices could be placed somewhere else! I want a microchip inserted in me right now!
Damn government with its military grade technologies!
FLOL !!!!!!!