Saturday, July 19, 2008

"Cosmic Markdown: EPA Says Life Is Worth Less"

The EPA recently lowered the value of an American life from $8.04 million to $7.22 million. This was the first time the agency has ever lowered the value of a generic human life. This decision compromises everybody's safety since it lowers the stakes when the agency does a cost-benefit analysis. A cost-benefit analysis factors in how much the cleanup will cost and compares those costs to how many people would be saved or helped by the cleanup. The lower value of an American life lets industry off the hook for endangering people and puts everyone's health at greater risk.

Washington Post article: EPA Says Life is Worth Less

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