On Sunday, a fire swept through a Brazilian night club, killing over 200 people. The story was eerily reminiscent of a fire several years ago in Rhode Island. In both cases, fireworks started the fires. In both cases, people got trampled trying to get out the front door. The club in Brazil only had one exit; the club in Rhode Island had several. That is likely because of workplace safety laws that have evolved since the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911.

Republicans constantly put forth the notion that regulations "get in the way of business". Most regulations, however, are created as a result of a tragedy which could be prevented in the future. As a result, we have regulations requiring businesses to have multiple fire exits, to minimize the pollution they put into the environment, and to specify what they can, can't, and must say in labeling and commercials. That latter one of course is for the safety and well-being of the consumer.
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77 comments (Latest Comment: 01/30/2013 22:36:32 by Raine)

We no longer have the debt ceiling to be concerned about, sequestration has been kicked down the road until May. Failed VP candidate Ryan thinks sequestration will happen, so we can expect Congress to get back to work and take care of the people's business. What issues will they tackle? Gun Control? Jobs plan? Immigration Reform? Reauthorize the Violence Against women act?
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57 comments (Latest Comment: 01/29/2013 01:19:11 by TriSec)

Good Morning!

It's been a long time since I had an early-morning Saturday blog, but I fear my platelet donation days may be behind me. (Not that it affects you - what are you waiting for?) Now being a Cancer Survivor, this is kinda close to home. Although I never needed any, when I donated, the bulk of my product went right up to Dana Farber hospital and the Jimmy Fund for transfusions to cancer patients - among other things, chemo wipes out your platelets. But I digress.
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4 comments (Latest Comment: 01/26/2013 21:19:07 by Will in Chicago)

I watched a good portion of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testimony to both the house and senate yesterday.

I want to thank the GOP for showing the rest of the world how prepared she is should she decide to run for President. Even more important, she showed the world that the GOP looks like this:
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78 comments (Latest Comment: 01/25/2013 00:15:52 by Will in Chicago)

Good morning.

Today is our 4,125th day in Afghanistan.

We'll start this morning as we always do; with the latest casualties from our ongoing war, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 2,175
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,083

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$1, 415, 727, 075, 000 .00

I've got a follow-up to Saturday's blog....I derided the F-35 for it's underpowered engine and ill-advised multipurpose role. Turns out that our English allies have discovered something new...it could blow up in a thunderstorm.
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86 comments (Latest Comment: 01/23/2013 06:22:52 by clintster)