Book Description

Do you assume the products you buy, the food you eat, the medicines you take, and the cars you drive are safe? Think again. We're exposed on a daily basis to life-threatening hazards of which we're often unaware. From defective airbags that can explode and kill us to poisonous additives in food, we're often the unknowing victims of corporate malfeasance and shamefully incompetent government oversight. In this hard-hitting expose′, Dr. Gerald M. Goldhaber examines the outcomes when corporate profits trump public safety. He uncovers the dismal history of government regulatory agencies that are supposed to protect us, but instead appoint leaders who come and go from the same industries they're tasked to regulate. And while our modern conveniences make life easier and more enjoyable than previous generations, we also face new dangers of the digital age. The hacking of autonomous cars, misuse of private information collected by smart devices, and renegade programming glitches in smart homes and offices are just a few scenarios confronting us in the near future. The companies who produce these innovations need to ensure they're fail-safe, or face hefty lawsuits if and when things go wrong. Principled disclosure of hidden hazards is an industry - and regulatory - necessity. We can only make informed choices and avoid needless injury and death when we know all the facts. Dr. Goldhaber recommends twelve steps to take control of our safety, and outlines a model of corporate responsibility and government regulation that balances public safety measures and company profits to the benefit of all.