Nearly half of Americans are responsible for the East Palestine, OH, environmental catastrophe.

Senator Sherrod Brown unleashed on Norfolk Southern for the Palestine, OH derailment catastrophe. But we, the voter, must take some responsibility as well. 

We created the environment for East Palestine, OH.

Senator Sherrod Brown did not hold back as he let Norfolk Southern have it. He pointed out that instead of investing in the safety of their operations, they used their profits for stock buybacks and dividends. But this is not new.

We have a corporate-bought Republican & Neoliberal political sect that allows for unregulated, unfettered capitalism. Worse, these politicians and their corporate handlers convince enough Americans to vote for the politicians that ultimately result in catastrophes like have occurred with the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Our society has laws that convict the average American of involuntary manslaughter for a car crash or other events where folks are killed accidentally. Corporate executives whose actions cause the deaths are maiming of others should be charged as well. They enrich their executives and shareholders at the expense of the lives and well-being of most Americans.

It is important, though, that we take responsibility. The people in East Palestine, OH, voted overwhelmingly for President Trump. He removed a lot of regulations that affected people in the areas that voted for him. In effect, they are responsible for putting a president and a party in office that for decades have told them they are against regulations or a government large enough to take care of its people. You can’t have it both ways.