Why does the left no longer seem to care about health, chemicals in foods, Big Pharma, etc?

[Anonymous]

I am completely aware of the "wellness culture to conspiracy pipeline" and, if you aren't aware of it yourself, there are plenty of articles about how "wellness" and "yoga" influencers have gone down the New Agey pipeline to conspiracy theories and far-right views. The easiest example is the anti-vaccine movement on the right.

This all being said, I feel like a lot of the liberal/left has dropped the ball on the discourse about Big Pharma, and the actual problem we have with PFAS, microplastics, chemicals and toxins everywhere that cause hormonal changes and cancer and premature death/shortened healthspan. This is an issue that is important to me and it's also an environmental issue. However, I'm finding that the right wing has now claimed domain over this issue... they suddenly care about the influence of Big Pharma because of covid vaccines, they care about chemicals and toxins because they think hormonal changes causes people to be trans/less traditionally masculine due to sperm count etc.

Meanwhile, the left seems to focus more on accommodating those who are subjected to the harms of toxins - which is all well and good - but not about attacking the root of the problem. For example, combating "ableism" and promoting "body positivity," having more institutionalized accommodations for people of high health risks and lowering standards of people's physical abilities. It's like, the left has just accepted the fact that we live in a toxic and unhealthy world, rather than try to do something to reverse it.

I believe it's takeover of neoliberalism. Most Democrats and even the "left" exist within a neoliberal (that is, global capitalism with less regulation, paired with the veneer of social libertarianism) framework. They want to soften the blow of social inequalities but never actually fix them, never actually do anything that would threaten corporations.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need the Democrats need to try to save the country on every single issue? Do you think the Democrats can do this single-handedly? The GOP won’t even admit that global warming is real and you… want the Democrats to fix microplastic pollution?

Vote straight ticket Democratic. Then we can probably see some movement on micro plastics and the like.

You sound like bad AI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am completely aware of the "wellness culture to conspiracy pipeline" and, if you aren't aware of it yourself, there are plenty of articles about how "wellness" and "yoga" influencers have gone down the New Agey pipeline to conspiracy theories and far-right views. The easiest example is the anti-vaccine movement on the right.

This all being said, I feel like a lot of the liberal/left has dropped the ball on the discourse about Big Pharma, and the actual problem we have with PFAS, microplastics, chemicals and toxins everywhere that cause hormonal changes and cancer and premature death/shortened healthspan. This is an issue that is important to me and it's also an environmental issue. However, I'm finding that the right wing has now claimed domain over this issue... they suddenly care about the influence of Big Pharma because of covid vaccines, they care about chemicals and toxins because they think hormonal changes causes people to be trans/less traditionally masculine due to sperm count etc.

Meanwhile, the left seems to focus more on accommodating those who are subjected to the harms of toxins - which is all well and good - but not about attacking the root of the problem. For example, combating "ableism" and promoting "body positivity," having more institutionalized accommodations for people of high health risks and lowering standards of people's physical abilities. It's like, the left has just accepted the fact that we live in a toxic and unhealthy world, rather than try to do something to reverse it.

I believe it's takeover of neoliberalism. Most Democrats and even the "left" exist within a neoliberal (that is, global capitalism with less regulation, paired with the veneer of social libertarianism) framework. They want to soften the blow of social inequalities but never actually fix them, never actually do anything that would threaten corporations.

The Dems pass legislation and install regulations. The GOP undoes them.

There is a lot more to be concerned about right now in our world. Yes, this is an issue, but with a narrow congress and the world burning for decades, this is a pretty back-burner issue.

[Anonymous]

You can't address any of this unless you have a regulatory infrastructure. The Republicans are trying to tear this down while Democrats, except the loons on the far edge, are trying to preserve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need the Democrats need to try to save the country on every single issue? Do you think the Democrats can do this single-handedly? The GOP won’t even admit that global warming is real and you… want the Democrats to fix microplastic pollution?

Vote straight ticket Democratic. Then we can probably see some movement on micro plastics and the like.

You sound like bad AI.

Came to say just this.

[Anonymous]

What makes you think they aren't? There are so many issues out there. Just research the one you are interested in and see where they stand.

Don't expect the media to cover every issue that is of interest to you personally.

[Anonymous]

I get that some people think this is trivial and other issues are more important, but I think that premature death, cancer, and declining health span is more important than sending $$$$ to Ukraine and Israel

[Anonymous]

OP, did you know that the President has ordered the replacement of plastics with "bio plastics?"

Separately, has proposed millions for cleanups in "red" gulf states

https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-bil-investments-2023-mississippi

So it is a step in the right direction, that is being uniformly opposed by the GOP and the Chemicals lobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am completely aware of the "wellness culture to conspiracy pipeline" and, if you aren't aware of it yourself, there are plenty of articles about how "wellness" and "yoga" influencers have gone down the New Agey pipeline to conspiracy theories and far-right views. The easiest example is the anti-vaccine movement on the right.

This all being said, I feel like a lot of the liberal/left has dropped the ball on the discourse about Big Pharma, and the actual problem we have with PFAS, microplastics, chemicals and toxins everywhere that cause hormonal changes and cancer and premature death/shortened healthspan. This is an issue that is important to me and it's also an environmental issue. However, I'm finding that the right wing has now claimed domain over this issue... they suddenly care about the influence of Big Pharma because of covid vaccines, they care about chemicals and toxins because they think hormonal changes causes people to be trans/less traditionally masculine due to sperm count etc.

Meanwhile, the left seems to focus more on accommodating those who are subjected to the harms of toxins - which is all well and good - but not about attacking the root of the problem. For example, combating "ableism" and promoting "body positivity," having more institutionalized accommodations for people of high health risks and lowering standards of people's physical abilities. It's like, the left has just accepted the fact that we live in a toxic and unhealthy world, rather than try to do something to reverse it.

I believe it's takeover of neoliberalism. Most Democrats and even the "left" exist within a neoliberal (that is, global capitalism with less regulation, paired with the veneer of social libertarianism) framework. They want to soften the blow of social inequalities but never actually fix them, never actually do anything that would threaten corporations.

Let me guess. The real issue here is that you are super, super angry that Ozempic seems to be as effective as it is.

Also, until the right slashes corn subsidies in red states and doesn’t slash Medicare, I am never going to believe that it cares whatsoever about health. And I’m a Democrat who thinks the progressives have lost their minds in the past ten years.

[Anonymous]

“The House on Thursday voted to overturn the Biden administration’s protections for thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, advancing long-held Republican arguments that the regulations are an environmental overreach and burden to business.

The vote was 227-198 to overturn the rule.

House Republicans used the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to block recently enacted executive-branch regulations.”
https://apnews.com/article/biden-clean-water-manchin-republicans-epa-environment-1bb64abf01d910f4c4763ad49883a8cb

[Anonymous]

So, OP, if this is an issue that concerns you, you should be working to get the House back into Democrat control, because clearly, the GOP has NO interest in environmental protection.

[Anonymous]

“Unfortunately, times have changed. Republicans have mounted a large-scale assault, in both Congress and the courts, to severely limit the reach of the federal Clean Water Act, and to return us as much as possible to the bad old days before the law was passed.”
https://elpc.org/blog/the-murky-politics-of-clean-water/

[Anonymous]

“The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing Wednesday on slashing the Clean Water Act’s authority to stop groundwater pollution.

Under the Clean Water Act, it is illegal to discharge pollution into any “waters of the United States” without first seeking a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. But in the wake of a recent court ruling upholding the EPA’s authority to regulate groundwater pollution, Senate Republicans have signaled a desire to dramatically curtail or even eliminate that authority.

The committee’s actions were spurred by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recent decision on Maui’s practice of injecting up to 5 million gallons of sewage water into the ground each day. The court ruled that because the injected wastewater flowed underground into the Pacific Ocean, the injection required compliance with the Clean Water Act.”
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/groundwater-pollution-04-17-2018.php

[Anonymous]

“The second resolution, championed by Senate Environment and Public Works ranking member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.), would permanently repeal the Biden administration’s waters of the U.S. — or WOTUS — definition, arguing the regulation amounts to federal overreach that will burden businesses and farmers.”
https://www.eenews.net/articles/republicans-seek-quick-rollback-of-water-esg-rules/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that some people think this is trivial and other issues are more important, but I think that premature death, cancer, and declining health span is more important than sending $$$$ to Ukraine and Israel

Honestly. People have some strange priorities. Plastic and PFAS are pervasive and long lasting. It will only get worse.