ummm agree to disagree on that one my friend. There are many other options other than DDT that can be used, what about herbal remedies like what skin so soft bug repellent uses. Or even smoke gun to smoke them out.
Ryan Mc. -- tell that to the millions in 3rd world countries who die of malaria every year. DDT is the most effective mosquito killer, cost-wise too, for the poorer 3rd World. Moderate spraying of DDT (like on walls of houses, inside and out) is incredibly effective, and has virtually no ill environmental effects. Ryan S. is dead-on target here.
Its people like you Hube that almost cost us our national symbol of the Bald Eagle. I guess you'd rather have the wild turkey like Ben Franklin? If cost is an issue how the hell are they going to afford the DDT, does it grow on trees?
Gee ... millions of people vs. the Bald Eagle. People like you, Ryan Mc., demonstrate why you're phonies. You don't really care about people. Your ideology, such that it is, trumps all.
Now that the hyperbole is out of the way, try just a bit of research. Obviously Ryan S. has done it; you, OTOH, rely on scientifically erroneous "progressive" talking points. First, I never claimed DDT is not a potentially dangerous substance. What I did say is that moderate usage of it has a hugely demonstrable cost-benefit advantage, especially in poorer countries. (And yes -- DDT is a lot cheaper than other chemicals, that's why 3rd World countries don't need grown-on-trees money to afford it.) Second, the US, being a "rich" country with minimal mosquito problems (due to our geography) doesn't need DDT, so the Bald Eagle issue is moot. Third, undisputed by you, is the myriad examples of proof that moderate usage of DDT in geographically-affected countries (the tropics) such as the mere spraying of it on the walls of homes, has a prodigious effect on preventing malaria.
But let's say that there's a species of ... fly in, say, the Congo that is threatened by even this small use of DDT. My guess is that you would advocate banning the chemical so that this fly species can survive; however, countless humans would continue to suffer horribly and perish thanks to malaria.
I am a phony? I like how you immediately try and question my concern for people. How dare you make accusations against me when I clearly don't see where I ever wrote that I don't care about people. I care about not giving them false hope. You know perfectly well that DDT would never reach the people who need it anyway.
Unless DDT is dropped in air-style fashion like the U.S. Berlin supply droppings in the second world war it is never going to reach the people. And besides when 13% of the American People are living below the poverty line I don't know...maybe its just the rare concern for people coming out in me, but I would rather spend it on them.
My "guess" is that you would make some statement saying those people should try and work themselves out of poverty or that I am just making typical "progressive talking points". However those humans would continue to suffer and perish thanks to poverty.
oh and P.S. here is your link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Pov...e_United_States
who is next?
^That argument is if U.S. aid is being used to fund the DDT. If it is not, then DDT is fine with me.
Dude, I really have little idea as to what the hell you're referring to in those last comments. They seem completely irrelevant to the discussion. We're talking about impoverished 3rd World nations, y'know. Not the US. Malaria is not a problem here.
"Dropping Berlin-style ..." Whaaa? Just ship the damn stuff to the countries that need it! But that's the whole point of Ryan's post -- it's idiotic to totally ban DDT as too many want to do based on a bunch of pseudo-science.
Now, how dare I accuse you of not caring about people? Just look at what you wrote. And maybe 'cause you assumed I don't care about wildlife. But now it's moot 'cause it's quite obvious you really have little clue about this whole issue anyway. Yeesh.
Well I am glad I have such a DDT/Malaria expert giving me the facts. How silly of me to even think of questioning you.
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