The dose makes the poison

Paracelsus’ point was any chemical can be harmless or even beneficial at low concentrations, but poisonous at higher levels. Regulators would be well advised to remember this concept. Too much of anything usually ends up with bad results. The Environmental Protection Agency serves a vital mission in ensuring the safety of the air we breathe and the water we drink. Regulations from the EPA in the right dosage help protect our nation’s precious natural resources. However, there is growing concern across the countryside that EPA is going too far. Many fear that EPA, in its zeal, will further cripple an already fragile economy. A heavier dose of EPA regulations could well poison America’s prosperity. And when prosperity suffers, so does the ability to protect natural resources. The EPA’s reach has expanded significantly during the current administration. The agency’s budget is more than $10 billion — the highest it’s ever been — and the EPA employs more than 17,000 people nationwide. America’s farmers and ranchers fear the EPA’s complex maze of rules and regulations will drive up their costs and make it more difficult to compete in a global marketplace. The EPA has introduced massive new air and water regulations that will do little to help the environment but will create a paperwork nightmare for farmers and ranchers...more