Anita - I am speechless.  Can you please explain to me what's good about being able to set tap water on fire.

  These are issues that actually don't have a lot to do with liberal or conservative political stances.  Don't you remember the last Olympics, when the Chinese government ordered factories to close down to make the air beathable for the athletes & visitors; and that a government fiat was necessary because  factories in China mostly operate without rules or regulations & people there rarely saw a blue sky.  Or how about the lakes choked with algae to a 2' depth   that had to be cleared by hand for the sailing races because of the extent of the pollution. 

My grandfather was an immigrant from Italy who lost his eyesight & had a whole host of disabling health problems.  He worked for the railroad, painting boxcars with lead paint.  The only safety equipment he had was a bandanna to pull over his face.  Progress is good, but has to be tempered with common sense.