Every choice in life comes with a price tag. Usually, we
don’t mind because the benefits vastly outweigh the costs. Ask a mother holding
her newborn, if the pain of childbirth was a fair trade for the miracle in her
arms. Or an Olympian, standing on the gold medal podium, if the years of
grueling training were well spent. Clearly, to get something, we need to give
something.
But in today’s world, there are times when we give up a lot for dubious returns. Take chlorine, for example. About a hundred years ago, when it was introduced as a disinfectant for our water supply, chlorine was hailed as a glorious weapon against cholera, typhoid and many other water-borne diseases. And, no doubt, it has since saved untold numbers of lives. Also, the corollary benefits have been massive – whole cities have grown and prospered as the result of the availability of disease-free tap water to homes and industry.
Ok, so what’s the problem?
