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Poison Rain Feared In Tianjin As Death Toll Rumored At 1,400

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The fallout from last week’s massive explosion in the Chinese port of Tianjin continues to worsen, despite Beijing’s best efforts to play down the danger to the public. 

The official death toll from the apocalyptic blast - which was described by witnesses as akin to a nuclear explosion - has risen to 114. Some reports suggest the number of people confirmed killed may ultimately rise to 1,400. Some 6,000 have been displaced and more than 700 are reported injured. "The whole sky was lit up, and the blast wave sent me into the air," a first responder told local media, describing the scene that unfolded last Wednesday. "My helmet was gone. It was like a different world, with flames falling like raindrops on my head."

Speaking of raindrops, authorities now fear that storms in the area could transform sodium cyanide (which is water soluble) present on the scene into hydrogen cyanide. Here’s the CDC’s definition of hydrogen cyanide: 

Hydrogen cyanide (AC) is a systemic chemical asphyxiant. It interferes with the normal use of oxygen by nearly every organ of the body. Exposure to hydrogen cyanide (AC) can be rapidly fatal. It has whole-body (systemic) effects, particularly affecting those organ systems most sensitive to low oxygen levels: the central nervous system (brain), the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels), and the pulmonary system (lungs). Hydrogen cyanide (AC) is a chemical warfare agent (military designation, AC). It is used commercially for fumigation, electroplating, mining, chemical synthesis, and the production of synthetic fibers, plastics, dyes, and pesticides. Hydrogen cyanide (AC) gas has a distinctive bitter almond odor (others describe a musty "old sneakers smell"), but a large proportion of people cannot detect it; the odor does not provide adequate warning of hazardous concentrations. It also has a bitter burning taste and is often used as a solution in water.

Tianjin’s vice mayor said “around 700 tonnes” of sodium cyanide was being stored at the facility. That’s a problem because as it turns out, the warehouse was only authorized to store around 24 tonnes. 

As we noted over the weekend, China has tried its best to go by the Fukushima playbook. In short, the overarching goal is to minimize panic among the population, even if it means blatantly lying about exactly what it is that the public is exposed to. After all, the priority among government bureaucrats has always been to minimize social disturbance even if it means sacrificing countless individuals that could have been saved if only the government had told the truth from the beginning.

This mentality led China to claim last week that no hazardous chemicals had leaked into the water. That contention has come under increased scrutiny. "The closest water test point to the blast site revealed cyanide 27.4 times standards on Sunday", AFP says. The State Oceanic Association admitted that "minute traces of cyanide have been detected in waters near the Tianjin port." Here's more from The Guardian:

With the official death toll raised to 112 and the number of missing people at 95, rescue workers wearing gas masks and hazard suits were racing to clear the area before the weather changes because of concerns that wind could spread the toxins and rain could cause a dangerous reaction with chemicals at the site.

 

Eric Liu, a campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, said that without precise data on how much calcium carbide was involved in the blast, it was impossible to predict how serious these reactions could be.

 


 

“The other danger rain poses is that chemicals stored in warehouse could be washed into water supplies, with a potentially large impact on local ecosystems,” Liu said. “However, again, without more specific information it is difficult to say what impacts exactly.”

Meanwhile, the public is getting restless as some suspect the government of obscuring the facts and masking possible corruption. Here's NBC again:

State media Monday carried large photographs of Premier Li Keqiang with local officials in identical whites shirt and trousers visiting the scene of massive toxic Tianjin explosions.

 

Li has promised a thorough investigation and punishment for those responsible — even while the authorities were busy closing down dozens of "rumor-mongering" websites for demanding pretty much the same thing.

 

Tianjin is tricky for the Communist Party because, according to numerous local reports, there appear to have been big regulatory and legal failures — from the type and quantity of highly toxic chemicals stored at the site to the apparent lack of an inventory and the location of such a dangerous stockpile so close to residential areas.

 

While the name of the company that owned the warehouse complex has been made public — Ruihai International Logistics, a four-year-old firm that employed about 70 workers — the company's website has been taken down, as has the corporate registry database of the city of Tianjin. That has fueled online speculation that local officials were involved with the company. No evidence to that effect has been presented, but such involvement would not be unusual in China.

And here's The Globe and Mail:

Online, meanwhile, authorities struggled to cleanse a raging conversation that attacked the official response and the system that had allowed such a disaster to happen. Social-media users shared photos of families rallying behind a giant handwritten banner demanding an details about the missing: “Either we see them alive or see their bodies,” read one.

 

Anger emerged in hashtags calling the situation “A real life Pinocchio” and demanding “Tanggu explosion truth,” a reference to the Tianjin neighbourhood where the blasts left a gaping crater.

 

“We demand the truth, and strict punishment to comfort the victims!” wrote one person on China’s Facebook-like Weibo site.

And while citizens can "demand the truth" until they are blue in the face, they will apparently have to do so very quietly and not in a public forum, because as The Guardian goes on to note, "fifty websites have been punished for 'spreading Tianjin blast rumours' and close to 400 Weibo and WeChat accounts have been shut down." So while the public will always be at an informational disadvantage in the wake of a disaster thanks to government efforts to maintain order, that goes double in China, where we imagine the suppression of online discussion will continue until the death toll and the fallout becomes so difficult to downplay that Beijing will be forced to either acknowledge the true extent of the catastrophe or face widespread social upheaval. 

 

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Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:55 | 6434813 junction
junction's picture

Call it "black rain."

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:59 | 6434815 Croesus
Croesus's picture

Soon we'll probably be getting another lecture from some politician, about how we need to "go green" to save the environment. 

Has it occured to anyone else, that the corporations are responsible for most of the pollution in the world? 

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:00 | 6434831 Oh regional Indian
Oh regional Indian's picture

Sure feels like odd timing, given the currency devals...

Question everything, feel for the common man, who is just a patsy...

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:06 | 6434845 Croesus
Croesus's picture

I've had that thought too, but also think that: 

1. China sees the US as a 'paper tiger'. 

2. The Chinese have no qualms about sacrificing a few million of their own in "the battle", if it means winning the war. 

3. The Chinese are a patient people, much more so than the 'instant gratification' culture that's prevalent in the West. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:09 | 6434856 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Just 10X those stats and lets meet BACK here tomorrow.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:30 | 6434905 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

I sure wish someone from the alt-media in China would get as close as they can to the blast site with a geiger-counter & a camcorder.  

Either prove or put to rest the Nuclear theory people are starting to circulate.  

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:44 | 6434952 Stackers
Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:17 | 6435056 gmrpeabody
gmrpeabody's picture

" some suspect the government of obscuring the facts and masking possible corruption"

What planet do they live on...,

oh, wait.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 12:12 | 6435764 Spigot
Spigot's picture

A hydrogen cyanide concentration of 300 mg/m3 in air will kill a human within 10–60 minutes. A hydrogen cyanide concentration of 3500 ppm (about 3200 mg/m3) will kill a human in about 1 minute.

Let's assume 1/3rd of the 700 tonnes (230 tonnes) becomes approx 125 tonnes of cyanide gas. That would be enough gas to produce 1 minute lethal doses to contaminate over 39 million cubic meters of air.

Good to be up wind from that.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 12:43 | 6435887 Black Warrior W...
Black Warrior Waterdog's picture

Cyanide Rain
Some stay dry and others feel the pain
Cyanide Rain
A baby born will die before the sin

Cyanide Rain
The school books say it can't be here again
Cyanide Rain
The Chicoms make you wonder where it went

Cyanide Rain
Build a tent and say the world as dry
Cyanide Rain
Zoom the camera out and see the lie

Cyanide Rain
Forecast to be falling yesterday
Cyanide Rain
Only in the past is what they say

:guitarsolo:

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:14 | 6435051 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

MOAB or air fuel bomb is more likely for a silly scenario like sabotage. Exports are down and stockpiles have soared in ports throughout China and the rest of the world. A work force of uneducated serfs will sooner or later make a poor decision and place reactive materials too close to one another. Then all,you need is a match or cigarette or shoddy wiring or even a piece of metal being dropped on concrete and boom. In case you haven't noticed the populations of ALL the major powers is aging to the degree that in 30 years populations will,be smaller and younger so there is no need for a war to kill us all off. Our masters are using carbohydrates to do that work...

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:05 | 6434968 lordylord2
lordylord2's picture

"Has it occured to anyone else, that the corporations are responsible for most of the pollution in the world? "

And who buys the products manufactured by corporations?  You guessed it:  indivduals.  We are all responsible.  BTW, you sound like a dimwit.  Take the responsibility off yourself and put it on others.  Nice.   i'm sure more taxes and regulation will fix everything.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:21 | 6435069 Dugald
Dugald's picture

Has it occured to anyone else, that the corporations are responsible for most of the pollution in the world?

Thar's reet there lad, where there's muck there's munny.....

Tue, 08/18/2015 - 02:30 | 6438111 goldsansstandard
goldsansstandard's picture

Sodium cyanide is only stable at a high Ph, such as in drain cleaner or oven cleaner.

Perhaps its dispersal is sufficient to bring the Ph down, and the resulting HCN gas has already blown away.
Then again, perhaps not

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:01 | 6434835 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Toxic chow mein

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:08 | 6434853 tocointhephrase
tocointhephrase's picture

Ho fun!

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:11 | 6434861 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Foo ie fung chewy.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:18 | 6435057 Never One Roach
Never One Roach's picture

Simply follow the money here as with any gubmint corruption/bribery. Sounds like heads were turned ... for a price.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:08 | 6434850 tocointhephrase
tocointhephrase's picture

"black rain"

Bwak wain

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:56 | 6434814 russwinter
russwinter's picture

Was Tianjin Hit by a Hyper-Velocity Rod-of-God Kinetic Energy Weapon? 

http://winteractionables.com/?p=24027

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:57 | 6434817 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

zionist high tech lightning.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434825 Budnacho
Budnacho's picture

Im going to go with your typical issues....overt Chinese corruption, bribery and safety violations...

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:17 | 6434880 russwinter
russwinter's picture

Safety violations certainly set the stage for the arsonist rod-of-God match.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:41 | 6434938 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

Funny how whenever a country gets out of lockstep with the talmudic financial overlords, events happen. Witness the Kobe quake after Japan threatened to cease buying treasuries, then the fukushima event after the same, and then now in China after they started dumping enmasse treasuries and then devalued their currency without official notice.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:50 | 6434975 weburke
weburke's picture

kobe location epicenter was exact location of research and development center. treasuries may have also contributed or been part of the rebellion.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:11 | 6435275 Mute Button
Mute Button's picture

Whoever posted above that we need a nuclear radiation detector and video camera to verify if it was a nuke, will have no more questions after watching that video.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434818 y3maxx
y3maxx's picture

What country/city is next to receive these gifts of covert USSA acts of terror?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:53 | 6434994 weburke
weburke's picture

gifts from whom? jerusalem one fine day.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434819 RadioactiveRant
RadioactiveRant's picture

Blame Japan.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:59 | 6434827 doubledutch
doubledutch's picture

Blame the FED

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:13 | 6434868 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Blame the Japs, the Feds and the DRY POWDER!.......bitches.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 15:17 | 6436532 Zen Master
Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434820 BandGap
BandGap's picture

They pack them in tight in China.

Hydrogen cyanide is reportedly a painful way to die. Cyanide binds to hemoglobin more tightly than oxygen and essentially you suffocate. Those idiots using masks are doomed if the gas is nearby, those are dust masks.

People are fools.

 

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:14 | 6434872 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Dying is a very painful and profitable process, I suggest you avoid it at all costs.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:57 | 6435460 ersatz007
ersatz007's picture

Those idiots using masks are doomed if the gas is nearby, those are dust masks.

 

They *are* idiots - they should go on AMAZON and buy proper protection from Hydrogen Cyanide with all their disposable income.  

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434822 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

We nuked some folks.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:16 | 6434875 negative rates
negative rates's picture

All but some folks are about to get nuked, are you prepared to, well you know.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:58 | 6434823 doubledutch
doubledutch's picture

Conspiracy believers are convinced that there are many similarities with 9/11

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:19 | 6434877 knuppel
knuppel's picture

Yes, status quo in china seems to be still making up their mind on how they will spin this. Theres various rumors on the net, that it may have been infighting of former chinese party leaders destroying evidence of an attempt on Xi Jinping. An attack on the new financial district being built next to the explosion. This is the main port area for Beijing, strategic oil reserves are stored there too. Sodium cyanide is also used for goldmining. The owner of the company terrain seems to be in hospital in a coma without a cited reason. Zyklon B cyanide has jewish conotations, was this a Rotschildian greeting?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 12:15 | 6435778 Panafrican Funk...
Panafrican Funktron Robot's picture

"Sodium cyanide is also used for goldmining."

This.  If the attack is tribal, it's a two birds/one stone scenario, major shipping port disrupted + gold mining disrupted = screwing with China's two main points of currecy value.  

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 07:59 | 6434828 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I'm still not convinced this wasn't a warning shot from the U.S to keep China in line with their currency moves.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:39 | 6434931 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

"Ok, do you still want to do bi-lateral trade deals in Yaun instead of dollars?"

Almost anything doesn't sound too tinfoil-ly given the track record we're working with.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:51 | 6434971 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

It's my belief that there are no such things as coincidences. It's odd how this happened right after China's currency move and the next day China holds a press conference stating they won't devalue their currency any further. And where is the MSM coverage on Tianjin? 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:12 | 6435047 the not so migh...
the not so mighty maximiza's picture

Don't forget the artifical island military bases Dr.   They had to be made an example of. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 11:54 | 6435698 Conax
Conax's picture

Don't forget their announcement that they had increased their gold holdings, also.

They have been getting a little uppity lately.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:43 | 6434950 Karl von Bahnhof
Karl von Bahnhof's picture

Yes doctor, this and following attempt on color revolution based on corruption, environmentals and bureaucracy.

Coordinated with Brasil protests. Interesting times ahead.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:04 | 6434842 SoDamnMad
SoDamnMad's picture

Nice to keep the firfighters in the dark about what exactly is there so they can courageously go right to the forefront and get blown to kingdom-come and/or be gassed to death.   I morne their loss. Not so the government.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:31 | 6436081 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

Um, that would be 9/11 you're talking about?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:08 | 6434854 Slave2Fashion
Slave2Fashion's picture

I'll take "Shit Happens" for $500, Alex, seeing that human beings were involved with all the concurrent factors of greed, kickbacks, dishonesty and stupidity.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:22 | 6434890 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

Greed is going to lead to the end of man. There are just too many members of the species that will do absolutely anything for their own personal power & enrichment.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:08 | 6435032 John Law Lives
John Law Lives's picture
Don't underestimate the other guy's greed:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cHpNyD4tZA

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:09 | 6434857 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Very sad event. My condolences go out to the families.

Blowback will occur to those architects responsible. This collateral damage is to high to target a small group of individuals. Imagine paybacks will bring higher death tolls to party setting off the explosion. My guess, they will target family members. 

Food for thought. Eventually, everything will come to surface. Exposure is imminent. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:32 | 6436087 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

I'm repeating myself, again.  That's 9/11 you're talking about?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:14 | 6434873 the not so migh...
the not so mighty maximiza's picture

Those empty cities make sense now, a place to evacuate too.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:24 | 6434892 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

If we build it, they'll come. Someone is fixated on creating new migration within China. Theodor Herzl principles of weaving peasants around comes to mind. 


Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:28 | 6434903 negative rates
negative rates's picture

And if we tear it all down, they will still come.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:48 | 6434963 pilager
pilager's picture

Still thinking those g-cities are for you and me...

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:17 | 6434879 Bitcoin Meiser
Bitcoin Meiser's picture

Yeah 1400 is more like it, but I think the death toll is even higher. Tianjin City has a population of 15 million people, larger than the population of New York City. With an explosion as big as the one last week there is no way the death toll could be only 1400. I would think that it would go even higher than that, maybe 5000 to 10,000 people dead.

But of course there will be a coverup to save face.

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:26 | 6434897 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

they had to blow it up to see what's in it

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:30 | 6434908 negative rates
negative rates's picture

We had cut it out, to see what was "in" it.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:31 | 6434910 yearight
yearight's picture

"1400 dead, oh not right! Many,many more!"

                                      Way Too Loew

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:33 | 6434913 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture
Dependency Theory http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RoMLdFlta1E

Let's blow up the 4th world's largest port to send a message. All speculation until the insurance policies get paid off. 


Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:35 | 6434920 dogismycopilot
dogismycopilot's picture

Ok, well if we start seeing zombies after the rain washes this shit into the ground, we know who to blame.

On a more serious note, with the pressure wave that must have been created I have to think that at least 1,000 people are dead.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:43 | 6434946 Rhal
Rhal's picture

After all the media rants, I have yet to hear anyone mention what blew up. What was that facility for???

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 08:59 | 6435001 moskov
moskov's picture

A privately owned company which was running logistics of large commodities shipped from abroad. Since the owner was the nephew of some very highly ranked officials in Beijing.

He literally got a green pass on doing business of high risks chemicals any of the state-run companies would have been dreaming for. So basically this owner is trying to use all ties with his uncle's influence to profit as much as possible by breaking all sorts of regulations and laws.

So there you have it. Capitalism working on its wonders influenced by the ethics of Wall.St survival books

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:29 | 6435096 agstacks
agstacks's picture

sounds like you're describing corruption, or cronyism, but go ahead and blame capitalism. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:36 | 6435118 moskov
moskov's picture

Yep, real capitalism has never happened in the history of mankind.

Tell me one chapter of the man-made disasters were ever generated by honest capitalism in the West

Tue, 08/18/2015 - 03:39 | 6438215 goldsansstandard
goldsansstandard's picture

The state has taken over the job of protecting the public from such dangers.

It failed.

In a world of strict property rights defended by private security firms, the neighbors could require inspection to insure that they were not put into imminent danger to life or health.

The nearby property owners security firms could negotiate with the hazardous material firmand would probablyagree on a trusted private third party , something like the existing Underwriter Labs.

It is likely that the security firms would have already adopted standards and agreed on third party inspectors as a normal course of business, as it is not in the security firms interest to enforce the rights of its customers through arms.
If UL failed they would face the wrath of the victims security firm, and the UL negotiators would negotiate a punishment with the victims.

This is the anarcocapitalist answer.

See Hans Hoppe at Mises.org

In the transition to an anarco capitalist world, the state could provide security vouchers for the poor, the few that still are.

As it stands now, the poor are often put at risk with no recourse.
How often soes the state have to fail in providing security of life and health before it is finally relieved of it's monopoly in the security arena?

Note, I am blind and editing is difficult. Please excuse the remaining typos as my editing patience has been exhausted

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:03 | 6435007 John Law Lives
John Law Lives's picture

You've got to look on the bright side.  Poison rain is a good thing.  It kills mice and rats...  That should pump the markets higher.

FUBAR.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:07 | 6435030 Joe A
Joe A's picture

On another thread Supernova Born wrote that 700 tons of Sodium Cyanide exploded (or that exploded, for you Supernova if you read this). Sodium Cyanide also known as Natrium Cyanide is used for gold extraction. China has been adding a lot of gold to its reserves. Perhaps some nutty conspiracy theory but who knows?

Anyway, raing reacting with Sodium Cyanide is not a good thing. That is massive Zyklon B.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:10 | 6435039 d edwards
d edwards's picture

Ho Lee Fuk!7

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:10 | 6435038 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Whose idea was it to store cyanide with explosives. That's what I would want to know.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:19 | 6435062 Kantbelieveit
Kantbelieveit's picture

Where are the ZH libertarians when we need them to defend private enterprise from ruinous government meddling? Who needs the EPA when it is obvious that corporations will learn from the destruction of an entire neighborhood? Surely they will give up some of their profits to maintain a safe and healthy environment. After all, the bosses don't live in luxurious private compounds far from the danger zones, do they?

A few thousand casualties is a small price to pay for letting the market police itself. Investors will sell the stocks of companies with exploding warehouses and buy the stocks of companies whose warehouses haven't exploded yet. That is the magic of the market in action!

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:33 | 6435112 agstacks
agstacks's picture

Libertarians believe in property rights

 

https://mises.org/library/law-property-rights-and-air-pollution

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 11:12 | 6435506 ersatz007
ersatz007's picture

and how do those property rights get enforced exactly?  specifically from the link:  The normative principle I am suggesting for the law is simply this: No action should be considered illicit or illegal unless it invades, or aggresses against, the person or just property of another. Only invasive actions should be declared illegal, and combated with the full power of the law. The invasion must be concrete and physical.

 

Sounds like a whole lot of folks were concretely and physically invaded over there in China by the explosion.  Some were even fast-tracked to Jesus or Bhudda or whatever.  I wonder if this particular 'invasion' will be combated with the full power of the law

 

I highly doubt it. 

 

edit:  that's the problem with capitalism, communism, socialism, libertarianism, etc... people are corrupt and engage in cronyism.  believing in property rights and enforcing them are two different things.  not that i'm against libertarianism, just i don't see how it's one 'ism' is gonna save them over another...

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 12:20 | 6435802 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

For starters you don't have a communist government that enforces laws for thee but not for me.  You also don't have giant corporations using state sanction to get an adantage over everyone else.

In a real capitalist society with libertarian principled laws and using sound money you would have a lot of small business.  Large business would be much more difficult without a government to provide monopolies, print money, and bailout cronies. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 14:54 | 6436299 ersatz007
ersatz007's picture

"Libertarian principled laws" are still dependant upon humans adhering to them and enforcing them.  I have less faith in humans than you do it would seem. 

In my opinion, the 'ism' you choose isn't the problem - it's the *humans* within the 'ism' that create the problems. 

The argument at its core is wrong - it's not about which system (or ism) is the perfect system...it's more about which system is either the least imperfect or, better yet, deals with humanity's imperfections the best.  

Perhaps it's a libertarian system...but I don't stock a lot of faith in the idea that the system (no matter which one it is) is going to drive humans to all of a sudden behave better and act responsibly towards their fellow man with high moral standards and the like.  A lot of people thought (and think) the same thing would (will) occur once a 'REAL' Communist, Socialist, and even 'Capitalist' system were (is) put in place...and you can see by the mess we're in today how those have all worked out thus far.

I'm sure there are a lot of devout Communists that argue in a manner similar to you -> "in a REAL Communist (big C not little c) society with marxist principled laws, you would have each of the proletariate in the system contributing equally and it would be difficult for a group of 'elites' to gain power over the rest of us" or some such thing.  

No such thing as 'real' capitalism, communism, socialism, will ever occur - because humans are the problem - not the ism.  I'm sure there are also a lot of well meaning people that think that 'globalism' is the answer to humanity's problems - that the more interdependant we are upon each other the better life will be for ALL people on the planet.  But here's the rub - there will always be someone that takes advantage of whatever system is in place - whether it's to work less at others' expense, gain more power at others' expense, etc... and quite frankly, maybe a libertarian system will minimize this better than other systems in place...but I'll guarantee there will be those that game even that system to their advantage and at the expense of others within the system.   

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:40 | 6435119 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Now there's a retarded comment for you right there. 

 

"Tianjin’s vice mayor said “around 700 tonnes” of sodium cyanide was being stored at the facility. That’s a problem because as it turns out, the warehouse was only authorized to store around 24 tonnes. "

 

 

It doesn't appear that .govs regulations worked out so well now did they?


Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:10 | 6435270 localspaced
localspaced's picture

Red herring argument.

A situation like this wouldn't be allowed to exist in libertarian system. The risk is just too big. There wouldn't be a chemical storage so close to a residential area.

I'm willing to bet this company (only 4 years old) was founded with/by some local politicians on board, helping them to obtain permits where they shouldn't and to avoid safety inspections and regulations...because if all that is handled by the government, and you can buy the government...well, easy.

In a libertarian system there would be many more and smaller companies in that area, for one...fairer competition means more players.
All of these companies would have vested interest in a safe and smooth operation of the harbour...that interest would trump their interest to operate completely free so they would set up bodies to regulate things and to make sure no one flaunts those rules and gains an unfair advantage. These would be forced upon them by local residents and property owners too as they are entitled to enjoy their properties without being damaged (and recompensed) or put at risk by anybody else's enjoyment of theirs. It's called checks and balances. It creates a more.conservative risk-averse market that'll spread and cover risks as much as possible.

The harbor companoes together would fund an emergency response that knows what to do in case of chemical accident...instead of the government sending 18 year old rookies from their (i bet) criminally underfunded fire department to douse it with water, which is probably what happened.

In a libertarian system, local residents would've had a say in where and how that port got built. There would be independent scientists and press scrutinising every bit of the plans and process and they would have legal recourse against perceived infractions in front of courts made up of their peers.

In all, in that system, no one would've allowed a risk like this to exist for very long. In the Chinese system...there's none of that, just cronies and patsies...so yeah...well BOOOMM!

But go ahead...keep thinking libertarianism just means that business gets to do whatever they want. Focus on that, and conveniently forget that we propose a restoration of a fully open and civic society where property and civil rights are fully respected and no legal entity (say a big company or bank) is seen as more important than the other (say a local fisherman or farmer or the guy running an ice cream stand on the corner) and TBTF becomes SBTF (So Big They Fail).

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 12:17 | 6435782 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

How can you extrapolate a disaster in a communist country to liberterianism?

You are an utter moron.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:36 | 6436103 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

Jesus.  the EPA would have saved them?  There's a retired geoligist in Colorado who would likely beg to differ.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:20 | 6435064 ultraticum
ultraticum's picture

Communism = Corruption.  Especially in China.  As much as they try, you just can't put enough strong-man lipstick on that pig.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:24 | 6435077 Never One Roach
Never One Roach's picture

Beijing is very lucky the wind is blowing in a southeasterly direction, even though it's failry far away.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:26 | 6435086 Perfecthedge
Perfecthedge's picture

The Chinese State media should photoshop the shit out of this.  Maybe show Pink Pandas raining from the Sky and instead of a fireball, they could show Chinese Noodles coming out of the ground.

 

FLEE NUDLES FOL EVLIONE!!!! GLEETINGS FLOM COMUNIST PAAAATY!!!

 

There is only one problem with this approach: REALITY IS SUCH A NASTY BITCH! Once the dead bodies start showing up in the River and thousands suffocating because of this, you can't convince these suckers that this was just early Chinese New Years Celebrations!

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:41 | 6435141 moskov
moskov's picture

And building 7 was the "reality" ever since, because Photoshop is made by the Americans.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:58 | 6435227 Monetas
Monetas's picture

We invent everything .... when will Russia .... learn how to make Charmin .... and stop wiping their asses with bark and twigs ?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:28 | 6435088 Perfecthedge
Perfecthedge's picture

Fun fact:

This is the second website, where I am getting Alibaba ads alongside news about Tianjin...of scantily clad Chinese women!

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:30 | 6435102 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

Sum Ting Wong.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:39 | 6435134 _ConanTheLibert...
_ConanTheLibertarian_'s picture

Not Funny Anymore

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:47 | 6435165 Monetas
Monetas's picture

"Apocalicious" is kinda funny ?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:40 | 6435138 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Even the Norkos ..... have the humanoidity .... to locate their ammo dumps .... outside  urbanity ?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:44 | 6435148 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Nobody beats the socialists.... in repression, shooting down civilian airliners and industrial carnage !

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:50 | 6435181 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Two things you can see from space .... the  Great Wall of China .... and that Norko ammo dump explosion !

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 09:53 | 6435200 Monetas
Monetas's picture

20 yeats of slave labor .... poof .... socialists don´t respect work !

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:17 | 6435303 PrimalScream
PrimalScream's picture

first it was 14 dead. now it could be 1400 dead. probably the truth is between these two numbers.

I hope that professional investigators in China unravel the truth. but i wonder if this is possible, with so many dangerous chemicals in the area?  how can anyone go in there to investigate?  WHAT A MESS. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:24 | 6435322 power ranger fi...
power ranger fiscal society's picture

Chocolate raiiiiiin

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 10:58 | 6435464 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

Now you know how China is getting its' gold.

Gold, Mining and Prospecting: Recovering Gold with Cyanide

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 11:03 | 6435491 Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer's picture

Look at them all out there...protesting and demanding more government regulation.

Goddamn commies...

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 11:26 | 6435573 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

When the IMF spoke about systematic risks and bailing out banking institutions.They forgot to mention.....

Then another round claiming unsecured loan repayment under banking depositors who use banks to get fucked over bail in restructuring. Strike two. 

Once we pull all assets from the central banking accounts, they won't have leverage to borrow our money to buy a derivative bet on unsecured peasant banking acount loans. If the bet goes south, repackage and sell the debt as a investment vehicle.  

Wash, rinse, and repeat. 

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 11:44 | 6435635 Stevious
Stevious's picture

Bunch of idiots wearirng surgical masks.

Surgical masks protects OTHERS from particles the the wearer emit.

Surgical masks do NOT protect, in any way, the wearer.

The do NOT remove chemical pollutants such as hydrogen cyianide.

They do not remove such materials as asbestos.

The do NOT filter out virus particles.

They do NOT even filter out the tiny particles of soot caused by fires. (It's the very tiny particles that can move deeply into the alveoli)

They are essentially useless except when used to protect others from a person coughing.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:30 | 6436077 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

this shit was done on purpose just like the EPA dumping toxic chemicals in the water here is the US. the people act like cattle to events like this. its fucking sad to see the planet molested by banking terrorist organization.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 15:11 | 6436504 KingOfMilwaukee
KingOfMilwaukee's picture

Between this and the stock collapse, China is starting to lose a lot of respect for its government. I love it!

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