How many, we will never know?
The above Chicago Tribune feature cartoon post brought to mind another group of unknown everyday heroes who have passed away in time and history from causes which need to be remembered too.
Another recent article titled: contained this statement
“Search our analysis of Illinois EPA data to find out “
The Purpose of This Post
To relate an ancient proverb, a wise or foolish idiom, the Coronavirus pandemic, Examples, and what I came to understand during my working career of the unknown environmental hazards many workers experienced during their working lives while working in manufacturing plants in the USA and the World.
King Solomon
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverb 9:10)
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverb 27:12)
Idiom- what (someone) doesn’t know won’t hurt them
Meaning – Remaining ignorant or uninformed about something will allow someone to not have to worry about, feel responsible for, or get upset by it.
What’s My Point?
When the EPA Law was enacted in the USA I was delegated as a Purchasing Manager in a large manufacturing plant, to obtain, review, and maintain records of every chemical and raw material that would be used in the plant. The logic was wise, since the Purchasing Department bought the materials before being delivered into the plant. If anyone bought something not approved, they would fear being fired.
For example, handling, mercury, lead, silver, copper magnesium, cleaning chemicals, etc. while machining raw materials into widgets for years added to accumulation in their bodies.
My point is hundreds of years passed before the EPA laws were enacted and enforced in the USA. Many manufacturing workers did not know how hazardous to their health was, and they worked without protective equipment, and in later times died early never knowing why.
Or in other words, millions of manufacturing workers became unknown soldiers same as the above cartoon depicts, worked in honest labor to became heroes to support their families, may have died form handling hazardous materials.
In My Opinion,
The USA imports many widgets manufactured all over the world manufactured while workers walk around in loin cloths while pouring molten metals, etc. or are even made in prisons or increment camps in third world countries.
Yet the USA has no reservations about the safety of their employees, only cheaper prices.
In other words, the above idiom is foolish in my opinion when applicable to a manufacturing worker not knowing the hazards of what he is handling or breathing while employed.
You Decide
Is it hypocritical on the part of the EPA to allow widgets made in the world that knowingly harm workers inured rot obtain cheaper prices for their products sold in the USA?
Does anyone know if the EPA actually enforces the laws to mandate workers wear protective apparel anymore?
Would choosing to wear a facemask be conserved an EPA to require employers to actually protect employees from being infected while working for being infected with Covid, a hazardous disease?
Should we check the level of lead in our drinking water being piped into our homes and add lead reduction filters on our faucets now that we know how many lead headers lines our water passes through pipes leading into our homes.
Or wise up instead of ignoring the issue and foolish advice of the above idiom, even though we now know we can die early from known or unknown causes same as the millions of manufacturing employees did before the EPA enacted and actually enforced the laws to protect workers?
If Interested
Read the Source links below
Source Links
Chicago Tribune Cartoon April 10, 2021
Water
Rudy u Martinka 
If the host government is manufacturing the widget we buy in their own factories (Socialism-like economies) and under their own rules & regs then very likely even our State Department could or would convince them to do otherwise as it becomes political. If we are buying from a Third World country then not likely they even would have an infrastructure to even carry out our EPA-like mandates in their country. But… if the offshore manufacturing source is in some way affiliated with a for-profit independent firm then likely it might be conceivable to build in worker safeguards to not only comply with EPA but also OSHA.. like those Material Safety Data Sheets required for all chemicals, etc. But again… enforcement would have to be established by the manufacturing contract and with quality control inspections. But , that would seem to be between the manufacturer and whoever is purchasing the widget stateside, presumably a distributor. If the foreign factory complies with their own country’s rules.. but falls short of our own “requests” for worker safety compliance.. the only “enforcement” is being held up to public scorn and ridicule.. in other words, bad press here in the states. This was the same situation with all the humbug about American brand name textiles being made by foreign children in foreign sweat shops. Might be perfectly legal in the host country .. but morally repugnant here in the States. Public outcry is sometimes the only way to get a domestic company selling the widgets, to comply.
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Doug,
In my opinion, people buying widgets everywhere in the world are mainly are concerned with cheapest price. They willingly shut there eyes and follow the description of the idiom.
Been that way since the beginning of recorded history.
Government regulations are and always have been largely ineffective. Fear is the primary incentive of regulations. Same as fear is the beginning of wisdom.
In other words, people no longer fear government or religion and willingly shut their eyes about anyone but themselves
When it come to buying cheap goods and employers hiring cheap laborer’ for profit.
The Company I worked at was profitable, so we followed the rules because we knew if we did not, that workers hire lawyers but lawyers on sue people or companies that are profitable. If not, the offenders just claim bankruptcy and no one gets any monetary lawsuit award .
Its all about money. unless a person have been taught religious values of treating others as you want to be treated.
And that is not what is being taught in public schools, only religious schools.
Sad.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
.
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