"There's no such thing as a coincidence..."

You've probably heard by now that 14 girls and 1 boy in a New York high school have developed neurological problems of strange, sudden symptoms of ticks, tremors and verbal outbursts. They were normal high schoolers living a normal life, and then blammo! Most had to start getting home-schooled as their symptoms were too intense. All, of course, have been seen by doctors and drugs have been ruled out.

Now we've learned that activist Erin Brockovich has stepped in to investigate. USA Today reports that she has spent the past week studying federal and state reports of a 1970 train derailment that spilled cyanide and trichloroethene within 3 miles of the high school.

I guess the thing that surprises me, is that it takes an activist to come in and solve this mystery? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for Erin Brockovich, and respect her for her research. But here is an area where we would hope that government (that is, schools) would step in, and try to see what's going on. But then the government might have conflicting interest, in that they might not want the truth out there in fear of a lawsuit. Because really, in our society, no one wants to take the blame, and more importantly, have to pay for it. That's what it all comes down to, no one wants to be out any money. No one.

Not even for the children...