Are you glad that those tree hugging Liberals stood up against large corporations in the 70's stopping DDT?

Question

Isn't America a better place when we can point to a Bald Eagle in the sky and tell our children it is our National Bird instead of them just seeing pictures in a book.
As of now the Bald Eagle is no longer on the endangered species list. Another true victory for Liberal Americans.

ROTFL Conservatives who answered this with Malaria comments and ones that even denied that DDT ever harmed the Bald Eagle thank you for making a point for my about conservative miopia.
DDT did kill mosquitos, but mosquitos existed long before there was DDT. 10 40 megaton Hydrogen Bombs could kill most of the mosquitos in southern Africa, but for obvious reasons to most people useing them would be wrong. For not useing them are we guilty for subsequent malaria deaths? Swiss Cheese has less holes than your line of reasoning.

Answer 1

The hypocrisy of conservative thinking could not be more evident than it is here. While DDT is effective in killing the mosquitos that spread malaria, it is a double edged sword. It also causes health problems in humans as well.

DDT used in the United States before 1966 may have caused an epidemic that has only now been detected! According to a fascinating study published in the July 14, 2001 issue of The Lancet, scientists who studied stored cord blood samples from mothers who had delivered at that time found elevated levels of DDT breakdown products among the group who had premature deliveries or low birth weight infants. This would make DDT responsible for a host of medical problems and the deaths of many children - but the link wasn't discovered until more than 30 years later! DDT use in the United States was stopped in 1972 because it caused reproductive damage to birds (the bald eagle and brown pelican were nearly extinct), but DDT is still widely used in 25 countries for insect control.

Not unlike many medicines in use today, the treatment is worse than the cure. Certainly malaria needs to be addressed but there are effective alternatives to DDT.

But I can't help but notice the overwhelming and identical response to saving the Bald Eagle in America was to point to malaria in Africa. As if one had anything to do with the other. This is a pre-programmed corporate response whch has been sold to conservatives as is very evident by the responses here. The banning of DDT in America was a separate act from the ban in Africa.

And when did conservatives become bleeding hearts? Only when it suits their argument. After stripping Iraq of its infrastructure and stability, and the reality of the error of going in becoming painfully obvious now even to senior ranking members of the GOP, conservatives now point to humanitarian needs in Iraq. This after all other arguments have expired or been debunked (removing Saddam, WMDs, Al Quaida link). Now they point to fighting terrorism (a ridiculous assertion knowing terrorist don't fight like organized armies), and protecting the people of Iraq.

If conservatives were so concerned with the welfare of the citizens of the world, they would start right here at home, and pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, that aids our neighbors to the south. Where is the concern for the citizens of Mexico? Hypocrisy rears its ugly head.

Answer 2

So, I suppose we can likewise point to the tree hugging Liberals and blame them for the millions of deaths which occur by NOT using DDT to eliminate malaria.
And NO, DDT did NOT harm the bald eagles. People harmed them. I had an uncle that shot one, he probably only shot one because that is all he saw close enough to shoot.
DDT, the Hole in the Ozone, and Global warming are all Liberal Chicken Little warnings. Nonsense for the looney-tunes Libs to worry about and shout meaningless slogans over.

Answer 3

Great question, and you are right, of course! You are almost always right! Bald Eagles are way cool, and very beautiful, and I am so glad that we were able to save them. Lets rack up some more victories for Liberal Americans, because despite what many neocons seem to think...When Liberal Progressives win...everyone wins!!!!

Answer 4

In other news millions died from malaria in Africa since the 70's.

I am so proud of the liberals in overreacting and not using sensible legislation so we could have had the best of both worlds!

Answer 5

Yes.

But also realize that the negative connotation of DDT is killing hundreds of thousands of people in Africa every year because it is not available to combat their mosquito / malaria problem.

Edit: Since you are so smart, why don't you research which tool African countries desire most to fight their malaria problems?

Answer 6

Here here.

Chalk up one more environmental success story.

To those uneducated people whining about malaria.
The misquotes that could carry malaria were already predominately immune to DDT by the time it was banned. Therefore it's continued use would have been ineffective.
Nice try.

Answer 7

True victory? By banning DDT it cost countless lives in other countries from malaria etc... enjoy your nature walk that came at the expense of thousands nay millions of lives...

I am happy for the Eagle...but sad for the loss of human life because of overreaction.

Answer 8

But a loss for the millions in Africa that die from malaria every year.

Answer 9

Well said, yes.

I would think that all the ultra-patriots in this forum would be flocking to the area I live in to see all these wonderful birds. They're everywhere.

Answer 10

I am also glad for the work they did regarding civil rights in the 50s and 60s.

However this is a new day and the new liberals are wreaking havoc on our society. I don't trust them now.