Distributive Policy
1. State what type of public policy is demonstrated in each of these articles and why you think that it is an example of that type of public policy:
A. "Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A.," New York Times, 3/1/10
B. http://renewwisconsinblog.org/.../milwaukee-council-panel-approves-solar-power-revolving-loans http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/milwaukeeshines "Solar Power Legislation Passes Today"
C. "Environmental Justice in EPA Permitting: Reducing Pollution in High-Risk Communities is Integral to the Agency's Mission"
Explain the stage(s) of policy formulation in the first article "Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A."
A. The New York Times article; “Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.” clearing discusses and demonstrates Protective Regulatory Policy. Unfortunately, the spirit of the CWA law seems of little concern to business as they’ve repeatedly sought to selfishly argue its interpretation in order to mitigate their respective environmental responsibilities and potential liabilities. It’s ironic that business’s historically destructive and non-sustainable attitude is what gave birth to the law and which continues to further its evolution. Moreover, arguing that the letter of the law - it’s language, is sufficiently ambiguous to preclude prosecution has proved economically advantageous to some business’ short-term, the energy expended in so doing might have been more constructively and efficiently redirected.
Unfortunately, Protective Regulatory Policy seems to be used as a stick to insure compliance with no carrots dangled to incentivize business to voluntarily, progressively reduce their impact on the environment. By defining and enforcing pollution control as punitive, adversarial strategies are insured. Predictably, business will look for every possible way to narrowly define the law i.e., “navigable waterway” is not a stream but instead, perhaps, the river it flows into. Such narrow interpretation
A. "Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A.," New York Times, 3/1/10
B. http://renewwisconsinblog.org/.../milwaukee-council-panel-approves-solar-power-revolving-loans http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/milwaukeeshines "Solar Power Legislation Passes Today"
C. "Environmental Justice in EPA Permitting: Reducing Pollution in High-Risk Communities is Integral to the Agency's Mission"
Explain the stage(s) of policy formulation in the first article "Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Hampering E.P.A."
A. The New York Times article; “Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.” clearing discusses and demonstrates Protective Regulatory Policy. Unfortunately, the spirit of the CWA law seems of little concern to business as they’ve repeatedly sought to selfishly argue its interpretation in order to mitigate their respective environmental responsibilities and potential liabilities. It’s ironic that business’s historically destructive and non-sustainable attitude is what gave birth to the law and which continues to further its evolution. Moreover, arguing that the letter of the law - it’s language, is sufficiently ambiguous to preclude prosecution has proved economically advantageous to some business’ short-term, the energy expended in so doing might have been more constructively and efficiently redirected.
Unfortunately, Protective Regulatory Policy seems to be used as a stick to insure compliance with no carrots dangled to incentivize business to voluntarily, progressively reduce their impact on the environment. By defining and enforcing pollution control as punitive, adversarial strategies are insured. Predictably, business will look for every possible way to narrowly define the law i.e., “navigable waterway” is not a stream but instead, perhaps, the river it flows into. Such narrow interpretation