Ignorance Is Bliss in the Land of the Golden Orange man

 

Ignorance Is Bliss in the Land of the Golden Orange man.

Germanico Vaca

“Drill, baby, drill” is the mantra now in the United States, thanks to the unfathomable golden orange man. Never mind the inconvenient truth that much of U.S. oil is about as effective as piss when it comes to gasoline production. Most American refineries still rely on foreign oil because they were designed to process heavy crude, not the light, fracking-derived oil produced domestically. But here’s the real question every American should be asking: How soon am I going to die thanks to fracking?

Of course, if you’re part of MAGA, where the literacy rate seems to hover at a generous 54%, you don’t want to hear it. You’ll just cover your ears, buy Trump Bibles, slap on MAGA hats, and invest in whatever garbage coin he’s hawking this week. But ignoring the facts doesn’t make them any less real.

Fracking uses some of the most dangerous chemicals known to humanity. Once injected into the ground, these chemicals inevitably seep into aquifers, poisoning water systems far and wide. Among the worst offenders are BTEX chemicals—benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. These substances are notorious for causing cancer and wreaking havoc on the nervous, respiratory, and immune systems. Sure, some BTEX chemicals can naturally occur in groundwater, but spills, leaks, and transport during fracking operations are a leading cause of widespread contamination.

Exposure to fracking-related pollution brings a host of short- and long-term health problems. Short-term effects include headaches, coughing, nausea, nosebleeds, skin and eye irritation, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. More disturbingly, studies have shown links between fracking and devastating outcomes for pregnant women and their babies. For example, research conducted in Eagle Ford, Texas, found that pregnant women living within three miles of fracking sites where excess natural gas is regularly burned off (“flaring”) were 50% more likely to have preterm births. Other studies have associated proximity to fracking with low birth weights and heart defects.

But who cares, right? Who cares if babies are born with brain defects or don’t survive at all, as long as the conman is grinning and gearing up for his next scam?

Health issues extend far beyond the womb. People living within seven miles of fracking operations report severe and persistent health problems. These include:

• Sleep disturbances, fatigue, and dizziness
• Rashes, bloody noses, and eye irritation
• Coughing, asthma, and chest pain
• Mental health struggles like stress, anxiety, and depression
• Liver damage, stomach irritation, and nausea
• Cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

And let’s not forget the radioactive materials fracking brings to the surface. During the process, high-pressure water and chemicals fracture rock formations, releasing naturally occurring radioactive elements like radium. This radioactive brine, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction, is either hauled to treatment plants or injected back into the earth. Regardless, exposure to radioactive materials poses severe health risks, including fatigue, nausea, skin irritation, and cancer.

As if poisoning air, water, and soil weren’t enough, fracking also brings with it noise, light pollution, relentless truck traffic, and nonstop construction. These factors contribute to stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic sleep disruptions for those unfortunate enough to live nearby.

But don’t worry—none of this will make it onto a MAGA rally teleprompter. As long as the golden mango man is smiling and raking in cash, the facts don’t matter. Who needs clean water or healthy babies when there’s a con to play and a country to fool?