Slog - Comments on Retarded Corporate Democrats http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats The Democrats are pretty high on themselves for moving on the PBDE bill PBDEs are flame retardants found in common household products. They are harmful, especially to children. The bill phases out PBDEs, setting up a product review system and a fining mechanism. Cool. Oh, whoops. Check out the exemptions listed in the House bill report: Exceptions to this ban include: • products containing Deca-BDE except for mattresses (effective January 1, 2008); and except for residential upholstered furniture, televisions or computers with electronic enclosures containing commercial Deca-BDE (effective January 1, 2011); • used transportation vehicles and used or new parts... Copyright 2008 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:29:04 -0800 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:15:13 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Johnny Could it be that the State can not interfere with federal contracts?

]]> Johnny http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675538 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675538 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:33:26 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me Federal or no, Boing is motivated by profit, and as such should be shut down by the State.

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675556 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675556 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:48:36 -0800 Comment by No, Seriously Maybe Boeing's employees (the Unions) wanted it that way.

]]> No, Seriously http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675566 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675566 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:59:59 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @1 - no, next thing you know you'll be admitting the City can suck wind if the State wants to rebuild the Viaduct.

Which is the facts, jacks.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675571 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675571 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:01:59 -0800 Comment by Just Me You are right, let's piss off Boeing some more. We don't want their jobs in our state anyway. Hell, let's tell Microsoft to go screw themselves too.

What planet are you living on????

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675583 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675583 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:10:37 -0800 Comment by john this was more than a little knee-jerk.

It seems to me that they wanted to ban them for HOME use, like where those kids are that you're worried about, but not for industrial use, which follows different rules.

Also, I don't really care if flame-retardent stuff on an airplane will give me cancer. I'd rather the plane not burn down.

]]> john http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675595 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675595 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:17:41 -0800 Comment by John This is one of those moments that Josh needs to take a deep breathe and drink a bourbon. Wait, no... bourbon contains ethyl alcohol... please follow proper precautions!

The MSDS states that you're favorite drink contains chemicals that are:

R11 Highly flammable.
R20 Harmful by inhalation.
R21 Harmful in contact with skin.
R22 Harmful if swallowed.
R36 Irritating to eyes.
R37 Irritating to respiratory system.
R38 Irritating to skin.
R40 Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

]]> John http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675605 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675605 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:30:26 -0800 Comment by Bill LaBorde You're reading it right; these exemptions are for Boeing. This is both an acknowledgement of the difficulty of banning a substance used in airplanes (because federal aviation safety regulations trump state action- PBDEs are used in the housing of the airplane escape chutes), and of Boeing's political power in Olympia. The Association of Washington Business hates this bill. Therefore, neutralizing their biggest member, who would have otherwise gone around screaming about air crash victims, was pretty much essential.

It's still a good bill. It will get the overwhelming majority of these toxics out of the product stream and, therefore, out of household dust, people's food supply, and mommy's breastmilk. That AWB still hates the bill must mean we're doing something right.

]]> Bill LaBorde http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675662 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675662 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:18:34 -0800 Comment by BIll LaBorde You're reading it right; these exemptions are for Boeing. This is both an acknowledgement of the difficulty of banning a substance used in airplanes (because federal aviation safety regulations trump state action- PBDEs are used in the housing of the airplane escape chutes), and of Boeing's political power in Olympia. The Association of Washington Business hates this bill. Therefore, neutralizing their biggest member, who would have otherwise gone around screaming about air crash victims, was pretty much essential.

It's still a good bill. It will get the overwhelming majority of these toxics out of the product stream and, therefore, out of household dust, people's food supply, and mommy's breastmilk. That AWB still hates the bill must mean we're doing something right.

]]> BIll LaBorde http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675664 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675664 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:20:21 -0800 Comment by We're a PCB Family "It seems to me that they wanted to ban them for HOME use, like where those kids are that you're worried about, but not for industrial use, which follows different rules."

It seems to me that you know fuck-all about PBDE contamination specifically and flame retardants and industrial regulations in general, and perhaps should consider modifying your posting behavior on the topic accordingly.

]]> We're a PCB Family http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675683 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675683 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:29:59 -0800 Comment by WhackJob Hey #10! If you know so much about PBDEs, why don't you enlighten the rest of us? Posts like yours don't add much to the discussion.

]]> WhackJob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675718 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675718 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:53:24 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me Right... Because the last thing we want is fire-proof materials in homes where children live... That would take all the fun out of a good house fire!

(Its so fun to watch those little ones burn.)

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675735 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675735 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:06:05 -0800 Comment by fmr boeing engineer The FAA has stringent flammability requirements for everything that goes into an airplane. This means that almost all non-metal parts have some kind of flame retardant applied to allow them to meet the requirement. The reason is pretty obvious - they want to make sure that if a fire starts it won't be able to spread quickly through the aircraft.

If the PDBEs were banned, you'd be looking at an all-metal interior - no seat cushions, seat covers, stowage bins, etc. i.e., not too comfortable

]]> fmr boeing engineer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675772 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675772 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:33:18 -0800 Comment by opticsdoug I know wikipedia isn't necessarily factual or up to date, but could someone point out where its article on PBDEs is lacking?

From what's there, I can't muster any more angst against PBDEs than Hexachloraphene or aluminum...

]]> opticsdoug http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675838 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675838 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:22:41 -0800 Comment by Bill LaBorde Hey, You Gotta Be Kidding Me:

This class of flame retardants was long ago banned from use in children's pajamas, but children's pajamas are still made of flame retardant materials. That's because safe alternatives exist. And, that's why the firefighter's union, the state fire marshall and the state fire chiefs association all endorse the ban on PBDE bill. Flame retardants will still be used, just not bromide flame retardants.

]]> Bill LaBorde http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675842 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675842 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:26:13 -0800 Comment by Bill LaBorde Fmr boeing engineer: the FAA standards are a big part of why we would not be able to extend the ban to aircraft manufacturers, but I believe that use of PBDEs in airplanes is much more limited than you infer. I believe that the alternative flame retardants are used in most of the components you mention above.

]]> Bill LaBorde http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675848 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c675848 News Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:27:12 -0800 Comment by Nancy Dickeman Comments against exemptions for the PBDE bill actually sound eerily close to some of the argumets the bromine industry is pitching to newspapers to get them to oppose the bill -- if you exempt anything, why bother?

The bill actually aims to address products -- electronics, mattresses, furnishings --where the highest volume of toxic flame retardants are used, and where our children are exposed. Safer, equally effective alternatives are available ensuring fire protection. Children are the most vulnerable population to these exposures, and removing decaBDE from these products would make a vast difference in protecting them from continued toxic exposures.

As a parent, I think this bill takes a critical step forward in reducing PBDE levels in our bodies, homes and environment.

Nancy Dickeman

]]> Nancy Dickeman http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c680648 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/03/retarded_corporate_democrats#c680648 News Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:15:13 -0800