History of Environmental Policy in the US Discussion

I find it interesting to how we as America have gotten to the point environmentally where we are. Also, in this discussion we witness the effect and influence the US Government, state and local governments, interest groups, and the policy method itself all among each other. Furthermore, it took the United States nearly to the anniversary of its bicentennial to see important environmental issues and problems be formidably addressed, only seeing roughly four policies aimed at issues regarding environmental protection, preservation, or conservation. Although the perception of championing policies and programs seeking these outcomes is that of being a liberal or that of the Democratic Party, it was a Republican President, Richard Nixon, who first created an organization that enforced these environmental issues, the EPA.

This alludes to the modern day point which I believe a consensus has been loosely agreed on. This is the idea that the environment is vital and important to preserve and maintain, however to what lengths is the arguement in legislatures at the state and national levels. It is that freedom among the states that allows this debate to be continued even if funding may be cut, redirected, or added pending on which party controls the White House and Capitol Hill.

As we see in the readings by Norman Vig, states seem to take the federal guidelines to enforcing environmental policy into their own hands. Some states may see the federal standards as the bare minimum, while others may use it as a maximum threshold to meet causing much variance among states and regions. Looking at states like Minnesota who developed the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act in 1990 and California who proposed the Green Wave Environmental Investment Initiative in 2004, allows for examples to be set for other states.

Lastly, it seems that the federal government has allowed much freedom with environmental policies within states even while states depend greatly on federal funding through grants. The areas such as the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), climate registry reports, and other regional partnerships are very important and useful towards improving the quality of our environment. However, I remain skeptical about the reporting methods in some cases with accuracy, accountability, and responsibility in these related areas.

Welcome

I look forward to this class and hearing each of your thoughts on environmental issues throughout the semester. In relation to this class and some of my personal interests, I have been reading Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, to which he discusses the overpopulating Earth, climate change, and globalization. Many things that he talks about in the book relates to environmental issues, including the impact of developments in third world nations such as India and China, and even Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, energy issues (dependence on petroleum and oil & renewable energy), among many other things.

Without giving away too much of the author's perspective and ideas, he maps out current problems and their relation within the environment, and provides possible solutions to growing issues. Friedman also gives his perspective on how we can push for massive green innovations which can result in revolutionizing the way we live.

If any of you are really interested in these types of issues and problems I strongly recommend checking this book out. It is a good read and gives you a good idea of where we are today in relation to not only the problems we deal with in the United States, but the rest of the globe.