folc.ca's comment on HAZCO's answer to FAQ #13

Note: The background text in the following was copied from the Frequently-asked Questions page at HAZCO's website, Nov. 2, 2005.  HAZCO's answers to "frequently asked questions" deserve further comments.  Those comments are inserted where required in HAZCO's text and are shown on yellow background.

From HAZCO's FAQ web page (quoted verbatim):

FAQ #13. What’s your reaction to the opponent website that’s now up and running?

Again, it’s not appropriate for us to comment on what others are saying or doing.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions and Hazco encourages open and constructive feedback.

Comment: "No comment," is a politician's or coward's way to weasel out of an honest answer in embarrassing circumstances.  "It’s not appropriate for us to comment on what others are saying or doing" is HAZCO's way of saying, "No comment." We demand open and truly honest information from HAZCO.  Unfortunately HAZCO appears to view concerns that are in discord with their slant on reality as being anything other than constructive feedback. Nevertheless, although HAZCO states in its answer to FAQ #13 that it cannot comment on these web pages (the very pages you are reading right now), in its answer to FAQ #34, in reacting to information in these web pages in regard to sulphur fires, it deigns to "confirm that sulphur fires can and do happen."  Moreover, the "current" design of the sulphur block storage area provides for above-ground storage of the sulphur block.  That is, as HAZCO's representative at the HAZCO Lamont information office pointed out, a consequence of the concerns expressed in these web pages, although the HAZCO representative wrongly believes that the concerns about the intended sub-surface storage of sulphur blocks will bring them into permanent contact with groundwater originated with the Friends of Lamont County.  That wrong belief is quite likely the result of misperceptions propagated by the Lamont County office staff who apparently have a sympathetic relationship with HAZCO. (See information on problems with sulphur storage) HAZCO would do well of divesting itself of that relationship with the County staff.  The members of the County staff that mislead HAZCO are obviously more inept in these issues than HAZCO is. I have lived for a long time, but never in my life have I come across an organization that contradicts itself so persistently and so often in its interactions with the public as HAZCO does, including even our federal politicians.  Well, one could say that there was one other organization that made such an appearance in my life, the propaganda machine of the Nazi party of Germany, but that at least spread persistent messages.  Even though those messages conflicted with reality, too, they did convince a lot of people.  HAZCO has a long way to go to achieve that level of success. Many may find it hard to believe, but HAZCO is very inept as far as the effective use of propaganda goes to further its intentions, even though much of its PR work is obviously comprised of propaganda tactics.  Nevertheless, for propaganda to be effective, its message must be persistent and never vacillate, no matter how wrong the message is. The goal of effective propaganda is to convince, not to confuse and to obfuscate.  However, HAZCO's propaganda may now become vastly more effective and perhaps more consistent, as HAZCO has engaged the services of a very powerful and very expensive lobbying consortium comprised largely of ex-officials of the Alberta Government. Still, money is power.  HAZCO has lots of money, and the Friends of Lamont County have very little of that but do have a lot of honesty and determination.  It remains to be seen what and who will prevail.

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Created Nov. 4, 2005
Updates:
2006 10 16 (reformated)