Calling out East Bay Exress

I was reading the free weekly East Bay Express while riding BART today, and came across this:

Down at Cal State Fullerton, a new study has determined the economic cost of smog in California. According to the report, California loses $28 billion a year in medical bills and lost work time due to the health consequences of breathing disgusting particulate matter from car and industrial emissions. We sure could use that cash right about now, because a new report from the state's Legislative Analyst's Office has concluded that the state will face an annual $22 billion budget deficit until at least 2014.

Well, sure, smog costs us $28 billion a year--but this figure is meaningless unless you compare it with the costs of reducing or eliminating that smog. It could be the case that getting rid of that smog will cost more than $28 billion a year.

So take that East Bay Express reporter Chris Thompson! I'm keeping you honest!