Damn Interesting » The Ethyl-Poisoned Earth
Shortly after the Ethyl factories sprang into action, the mind-dulling effects of lead began to manifest in the workers. Disorientation, impaired judgment, and a staggered gait plagued the lead-polluted employees, and the larger facility in Deepwater came to be known as the “House of Butterflies” owing to the insect hallucinations frequently experienced there. As Ethyl handlers began to turn up at doctors’ offices, hospitals, and morgues, the Ethyl Corporation was quick to blame the victims. “We could not get this across to the boys,” Charles Kettering claimed, “We put watchmen in at the plant, and they used to snap the stuff at each other, and throw it at each other, and they were saying that they were sissies. They did not realize what they were working with.”
I started reading a great deal about the benefactor that inspired my hometown’s name, and the more I looked, the more I was appalled at the number of ways Boss Kett ruined the world, while convincing himself that his Kettering Doctrine was sound. I find it amazing that in the pursuit of profits and discovery, a man considered so great in the eyes of the Community and the World could be so wrong about most of the discoveries, a man who helped create two of the most poisonous substances on earth — Tetraethyl Lead and CFCs — that have helped bring about catastrophic change in the environmental and human condition. CFCs are a large source of greenhouse gases and Tetraethyl Lead has been linked to high crime rates and reduction in IQ’s since its wide spread use.
“It is stunning how strong the association is,” Nevin said in an interview. “Sixty-five to ninety percent or more of the substantial variation in violent crime in all these countries was explained by lead.”
Through much of the 20th century, lead in U.S. paint and gasoline fumes poisoned toddlers as they put contaminated hands in their mouths. The consequences on crime, Nevin found, occurred when poisoning victims became adolescents. Nevin does not say that lead is the only factor behind crime, but he says it is the biggest factor.
Way to go Chuck. And to make matters even worse, Mr. Kettering, through his fireside chats during WWII, promoted chemicals that lead to the demise of the environment. I would invite all to review Mr. Kettering’s ebullience on the wonder chemical DDT. Mr. Kettering is striking multiple blows for the environment. Nice Job!
Well, do not worry. Boss Kett put his fortune to use and the world has the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York. Here is a famous quote from our man about cancer. I love irony:
At the August 8, 1945 announcement, Sloan and Kettering emphasized that the dramatic news of the atomic bomb, developed with a $2 billion research program, was a graphic illustration of what can be accomplished by scientifically-organized research as practiced by American industry. If as much money and talented personnel were available as the government had for the atomic bomb, they said, very rapid progress could be made in cancer research.
Mr. Kettering likens the future of cancer research to one working on the atomic bomb. It would be interesting to know how many cancers Boss Kett’s inventive spirit actually caused. I think the Kettering Foundation’s goal should be to determine if his inventions actually benefited humanity.
Powered by ScribeFire.
Greg, I read the article you cited, “the ethyl poisoned earth.” One interesting point in the article is this: “In 1922 the League of Nations recommended a ban on interior lead paints due to heath concerns, and though Europe complied, the United States declined to adopt the resolution.” I’m surprised that there was a concern about the harmful effect of lead at such an early time.
Your headline seems a little overly dramatic. Kettering, according to the article, appears to not have been an environmentalist and, with dangerous chemicals, should have been more careful for his workers’ safety. Kettering no doubt made some wrong choices. But think of the good that he accomplished. And the fact is, his money is still being put to much positive use. Dayton needs more people with the vision and inventiveness of Charles Kettering.
Here are some facts from his bio, from the link you provided:
“Kettering held more than 300 U.S. patents. He invented the all-electric starting, ignition, and lighting system for automobiles. All-electric starters replaced crank (manual) starting of automobiles. First incorporated in the 1912 Cadillac, all-electric starting aided in the growth of the U.S. auto industry. His patents included a portable lighting system, Freon, a World War I “aerial torpedo,” a treatment for venereal disease, and an incubator for premature infants. His engine-driven generator was combined with storage batteries to form a “Delco Plant”, providing an electrical lighting system for farmhouses and other locations remote to the grid.
He developed the idea of Duco paint and ethyl gasoline. He helped develop diesel engines and ways to harness solar energy. He was a pioneer in the application of magnetism to medical diagnostic techniques.
Kettering was a researcher first for National Cash Register, and then for the U.S. automotive industry, founding the Dayton Engineering Laboratories company with Edward A. Deeds and Harold E. Talbott. Delco was eventually sold to General Motors, where it became the foundation for the General Motors Research Corporation and Delco Electronics. Kettering became vice president of General Motors Research Corporation in 1920. He held the position as head of research for General Motors for 27 years.”
I learned how to write headlines by visiting Drudge. I single out Kettering as someone who believed in all of the positive aspects of scientific achievement without regard to the potential negative aspects of these inventions. I take issue with the hubris in the scientific achievement will benefit the world at large. The Kettering Doctrine is endemic in the world today and based on the results I am not certain that all the “advances” are a net benefit to society.
It would seem to me that authentic scientific achievements neither benefit nor hurt the world — it depends on what the world does with new knowledge. Scientific advances make it even more obvious that we need peace in the world, we need the world influenced by the best and the wisest of us — and the best and the wisest of us can most likely emerge through democracy. Science has made great leaps, but humanity has not progressed enough to keep up with science. It seems unlikely that humanity can last another 100 years — unless it can make great leaps in human qualities such as compassion, community, understanding, empathy and great leaps in politically organizing itself so that justice and peace reign.
I respect Kettering’s insight that the commitment that produced the organization, resources and brains that made the Manhatten Project a success should be equaled in the commitment we give to projects that serve humanity — like finding cures for cancer. The big project for humanity is the survival of humanity. Science has pushed the envelop by unlocking the secret to terrible poisons and awful weapons. Previous to the 20th century it was inconceivable that the world would perish. Now there are WMD’s or potential WMD’s everywhere.
I couldn’t get your “Kettering Doctrine” site to open, so I googled and found this description:
“Kettering’s philosophy, which I call “the Kettering Doctrine,” had two core elements: (1) research by corporations such as GM represented “progress through
science;” and (2) the interest of the corporation is synonymous with the public interest. GM began to portray its interests and those of the public as synonymous, as if they had merged into one common interest.”
Charles Kettering focused on innovation and believed in testing ideas in the marketplace. He saw research as “nothing more than an open, welcoming attitude towards change.” Today, the foundation he started works to reclaim the citizen’s role in democracy. This practical research is making a difference in how organizations and individuals in dozens of nations conduct their work as public work. Charles Kettering does not deserve your tagline “Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
Connie and to all who read this post, I learned a great deal about Mr. Kettering and I think he is a great man, but one without all of the facts. Connie helps me point this out and I thank her for the comment.
The problem with this idea is that it is pervasive in society, The politics of America have been corrupted by this marketplace doctrine that has resulted in an unfair advantage in the marketplace for unfettered Capitalism. I think this quote about today’s marketplace is evidence that the Kettering Doctrine requires modification and that Democracy may reduce the power of the marketplace.
Until the Kettering Foundation, or you Connie, can produce a document explaining how the Marketplace has tested ideas, with a conscience, that result in the “ultimate” public good, I will stand by my headline.