I'll bet he wouldn't like it if he discovered toxic waste was being stored/leaked just next door. But as a theoretical situation he'd probably just say that it'

I'll bet he wouldn't like it if he discovered toxic waste was being stored/leaked just next door. But as a theoretical situation he'd probably just say that it's fine as long as it's to code. Even if it were real, people cling to being told it is okay. There are two problems I see. First, people seem to lack empathy -- it could just as easily be them suffering through no fault of their own. Second, people subconsciously know they could be struck by any number of random bad things, and there is nothing they could do about it, and no one would help; they rationalize this as the victim somehow being at fault. Same as crops failing because of sins or inadequate sacrifices. Maybe explain to him that these businesses are run by big Democrat donors, and they are getting a free lunch by having tax payers pay for their pollution.