Science, statistics, and probability are all interrelated if one is to understand the former. From second-hand smoke to global warming we're confronted daily with statistics that seem straight forward on their face. Sometimes they are. Most of the time though we have to dig deeply to find out the truth which usually involves reference to the methodology involved in the statistics derivation. Like reading one of my posts, that's where your eyes begin to glaze over and you seriously start to think that your high school biology teacher was all wet because your hair hurts at the effort.
In any event, the EPA has decided you're worth less than you were. Of course, if you're a parent with teenagers you're probably well on the way to being convinced that most of what you know is worthless. But those greedy little leeches will get their comeuppence. You've probably already shot most of your life worth. They, on the other hand, have barely begun to exploit their value to society, with many languishing in a net negative state. Well, cheer up bunky, I've got news for you! The EPA says they'll never be worth what you were or are. Economically speaking, we can afford to lose a few of them. I should caution though that, even with the recent Supreme Court ruling, which you've probably been cogitating on in regard to the latest thing your daughter has dragged home, the EPA still finds some value in your progeny and whomever that piece of human debri she is dating is.
Here's how the EPA figures out how bad things are, in terms of lives lost. You knew this was coming, so I might as well break the news to you, what your life is worth is a political matter. A lot of people make a lot of money on the going price for your life. If you're worth less, but not worthless, whatever that is out there that might kill you becomes less of a problem. It's kind of like the way the government of Burma looks at it's population, except for the fact that the Burmese really won't live to see social security. See, if you're worth less, then the killer bees, the avian flu, AIDS, and the lack of bicycle helmets isn't such a big drag on the economy as it might otherwise be. And everyone in the science field from the polar bear census bureau to the radon awareness office takes a virtual pay cut. What the heck good is a decent crisis of purported pandemic proportions if we can afford to lose a few million inflation adjusted deaths to no economic loss in the US economy? Stick with the EPA though if you're seeking shelter from a lightning storm in DC; they value you more than the Dept. of Transportation does. What? You thought the government would use the same value across the board?
Here's how it "works":
EPA knocks $900,000 off value of a life - Environment - MSNBC.com
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