Opinion: In today’s pages
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There will be economic pain, at least in the short term, along with environmental gains as Califoirnia imposes steep new rules on diesel trucks, the editorial board warns. But the investment will pay off long-term in better health--and reduced public healthcare costs--as well as ultimately saving truckers some money on fuel:
When it comes to pollution, somebody always pays a price. Currently, the overwhelming majority of the costs are borne by the public. The air board estimates that the new rules will save 9,400 lives by 2025 and up to $68 billion in healthcare costs as cancer-causing emissions are reduced. Moreover, the fuel-efficiency requirements will ultimately save truckers money and help make up for the cost of the upgrades.
The board also offers President-elect Barack Obama advice on picking a new Education secretary: Someone who will keep the reform and accountability movement going, but be open to the many changes needed in the No Child Left behind Act.
On both sides of the fold, there is pondering on Obama’s role in the allegations of pay-to-play surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. The editorial board is glad that Obama came forward, if a bit belatedly, to address the issue in many Americans’ minds about whether his administration was in any way involved. And op-ed columnist Doyle McManus writes that even though the early indications are that Obama’s aides did nothing untoward in telling him the administration’s preferences about the new senator the governor would appoint, these are always nervous times in case someone said something cringe-worthy:
At worst -- although we are not yet there -- the president-elect could even face calls to fire one of the aides he hoped to bring to the White House, merely for the appearance created by a conversation with Blagojevich in an era of high ethical standards.
Elsewhere on the op-ed page, Joel Stein frets about his status as a potential creditor of Sam Zell, and a human-rights advocate praises the San Diego man who lost his family when a military jet crashed into their home, for being honest about his pain and unwilling to give in to anger.
Blagojevich cartoon by Ed Hall/Artizans.com.