libertarian-lead-poisoning

“Just to give you an example, there’s a contractor painting my house right now, and I’ve been talking to him—he’s the kind of guy they represent. He hates the government, because the government doesn’t let him use lead in the paint, and it makes him pay workers’ compensation to his workers when they get hurt, things like that. He just wants to get all this stuff out of his hair so he can go out there and make money, do whatever he feels like. You tell him, “Well, kids will die of lead poisoning if you use leaded paint.” He says, “Ahh, a lot of government bureaucrats made that up, what do they know? I’ve been breathing lead all my life and look at me, I’m healthy as a horse.” That’s the sort of attitude that’s been supporting this movement—and I think big business is very worried about it.”

Chomsky, Noam. Understanding Power: The Indispensible Chomsky. New Press, The, 2002.