Did you forget the sarcasm tag, or do you really equate free markets with the made up "freedom" of polluting the environment and give cancer to everyone who in turn will have to pay for health care or just die? That is not what free markets means...

There is no contradiction between a "free market" and the government regulating the production of goods and services so that the harm caused by such production (and by the goods themselves,) is factored into the cost of production. We know (and this article is just one example of many,) that companies(and governments) will cut costs in every possible way. Whether by disposing of hazardous waste in Love Canal, the Hudson River(GE, IBM and who know who else,) or down dry wells in Phoenix, AZ(Motorola,) or buried in landfills all over the country (including Minn.,) or skimping on product safety or skimping on worker safety. While the pursuit of a Dollar, Pound, Euro or Rupee is and amazing motivating factor, regulating to mitigate the harm done is a valid government (and it is government, industry has shown itself hopeless at self-regulation without oversight,) function. This should include the global supply chain as well. Moving low cost production to Bangladesh often(always?) means low cost hazardous waste disposal.

Thanks for strawmanning libertarians. This is why I don't tell everyone to vote. Many people dont have the time or means to be educated on the issues.