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Thom's blog
Corporations Should Pay For Their Own Mistakes
More than 300,000 West Virginia residents are facing their fifth day of coping with a massive chemical spill, and FEMA is helping state and local agencies ensure that residents have access to safe drinking water. That means tax payers are already covering the cost of the spill, and they could be on the hook for clean up expenses as well. To make matters worse, state environmental officials are now saying that the chemical leak could be substantially worse than first believed. Earlier reports estimated between two and five thousand gallons of a dangerous coal-processing chemical leaked into the Elk River, but now residents are learning that as many as 7,500 gallons might have contaminated their drinking water.
The West Virginian American Water Company says it may be “several days” before residents can use their tap water for anything other than flushing toilets. Many schools and businesses remain closed because of the dangerous spill, and stores can't keep up with the demand for bottled water. The West Virginia chemical spill is a perfect example of why corporations aren't more responsible when dealing with dangerous substances – they keep all the profits, and the public is forced to cover the cost of their screw ups.
Just like those responsible for oil spills, these companies are never forced to pay the true cost of their reckless behavior. Patricia Mason, a 54-year old retired West Virginia resident, said, “It seems like no one watches these companies. They get away with this all the time, and we're the ones who pay for it. We're the ones who are suffering. It's just wrong.” Our nation must enact stricter regulations to govern these toxic chemicals, and we need to enforce the laws we have by holding corporations responsible for the real cost of the damage they do to our environment and our lives.
-Thom
(What do you think? Tell us here.)
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Should Freedom Industries get the death penalty? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Watch the video 'Last Hours' narrated by Thom Hartmann about the "time bomb" that is ticking underground, underwater and under ice… frozen methane that is now escaping and could trigger runaway climate change. www.lasthours.org
Have a question or comment for Thom? Grab your phone, hit record and send your video to YourTakeMyTake@gmail.com and we may air it on "The Big Picture."
Need to Know: Should Freedom Industries get the death penalty?- Meghan Lopez, RT-TV America
Screwed: Factory farms...antibiotics nightmare in the making?- Patty Lovera, Food and Water Watch
Plus: Will America get a federal carbon tax?- Mark Reynolds, Citizen's Climate Lobby
The Best of the Rest...
TPP...fast track to poverty in America?- Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI, 2nd District)
Daily Take: Is Congress guilty of torture?
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Friday's Daily Stack
Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too... Follow Bernie: campaign site.
Hour Two: Anything Goes on Townhall Friday!
Article: " Federalist No. 81" (The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority) by Alexander Hamilton.
Hour Three: Anything Goes on Townhall Friday!
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: Should Freedom Industries get the corporate death penalty?
Hour Two: GOP keeps unemployed cold and hungry- Rich Danker, American Principles in Action (APIA)
Hour Three: Is Congress guilty of torture?
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
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Tuesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
We'll have all the latest news and information you won't be hearing from the corporate owned news media...
Plus, with more and more states opting to make pot more legally available, why are the right wingers still demonizing it? I'll challenge conservative Charles "Cully" Stimson of the Heritage Foundation...
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
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Thom's Poll
Should Freedom Industries get the corporate death penalty?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 1/10/14: New Report: Most Members of Congress Are Millionaires
Tonight's "Big Picture Rumble" discusses the latest with Christie's bridgegate scandal, the dismal job numbers report and how Congress has taken steps recently to fast-track the TPP trade deal. In tonight's "Conversations with Great Minds" Thom talks with artist, activist and businessman Andy Shallal who recently announced his candidacy for Mayor of DC.
Thom Hartmann on the News: January 10, 2014
Brunch With Bernie - January 10, 2014
The Thom Hartmann Program - January 10, 2014 Hour 2
The Thom Hartmann Program - January 10, 2014 Hour 3
Caller: I Disagree With Your Definition of a Capitalist
Capitalism is Not a Religion!
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook.
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