Let’s check in on those laboratories of democracy and see what they’re up to, shall we? Restricting abortion access , perhaps? Passing laws against climate change maybe? Or taking some time off of hating women and science to hate immigrants and college students for a change of pace? Oh, here’s a new one: Tom Corbett, governor of Pennsylvania, is creating a Keystone Opportunity Zone in which Shell Oil will have the Opportunity to not pay any taxes on a plant that will manufacture "a range of plastic products" (like those pictured left), the taxpayers will have the Opportunity to pay for toxic waste cleanup, the community will have the Opportunity to breathe (perfectly EPA-compliant) poisonous air, and teachers and firefighters have the Opportunity to find new jobs! Opportunities for everyone! And on top of it, a plant that makes plastics, which as we know, is what the FUTURE is made of.
A new proposal by Gov. Tom Corbett to give a long-term $1.7 billion state tax break for a planned Marcellus Shale gas petrochemical refinery in southwestern Pennsylvania is a late-emerging issue in the state budget debate. The tax credit proposal for a $4 billion Shell Oil Co. plant came to light just as Corbett started negotiations last week with Republican legislative leaders over the final shape of the $27 billion state budget for fiscal 2012-13…Shell plans to locate in a state Keystone Opportunity Zone so it would also get long-term breaks on local taxes as well…Shell's parent firm, Royal Dutch Shell, had a $20 billion profit in 2010… An environmental group criticized the governor for giving a tax break to a big corporation while he is cutting state aid to public schools.
Look, schools are nice and all, but they are becoming a luxury we can't afford if we want to make sure that foreign corporations like Shell Oil are able to weather this economic crisis, not to mention if we're going to be able to make the kind of cheap plastic garbage we usually import from China. So this plant is helping with locavorism ON TOP of helping Shell Oil! Also, ideally, the refinery will create enough low skilled jobs to make any need for an education completely obsolete and has the added bonus of lowering life expectancy, thus saving money on Medicare and Social Security. WIN, WIN and WIN!
[ The Daily Review ]
smashedinhat, as an engineering whore involved in many industrial sectors unpopular with the public (currently looking to change occupations, ghetto landlord topping the list) drags his ass in circles on a bed of glass whilst howling at the moon like a pale eyed beast, much like many of the lawyers I know. We circle the room. Howling.
Plastic is bad!!
What's the difference between an "Opportunity Zone" and a "stimulus bill"? OH yeah, the socialism.