This article was very interesting for Obama's administration since it really was something that has set the tone for his time in office. He immediately set to fullfilling campaign promises. He did not only focus on the economy or the war. He wanted to make a broad impact on many issues that are affecting our country. Obama set about reversing the work done by Bush, by allowing states to continue to be responsible for their own affect on the environment. For so long conservatives have focused on the states and their rights. However, when California and other states wanted to put limits on carbon emissions and other aspects of the vehicles that are used in their state Bush intervened. Since these requirements would have such a large affect on the auto makers Bush and his administration stalled the states efforts. Since passenger cars contribute 25% of carbon emissions it makes sense to put requirements on the auto makers to limit that, or make modifications to cars to become more environmentally sound. Obama will direct the EPA to allow these states (17 at the time of this release) to put very strict requirements on the auto makers. Although the EPA will take several months to make a decision on whether to reverse the Bush policies it is making a strong statement that President Obama will be a supporter of not only the states and their rights, which were once encouraged by the GOP but the environment as well.
What are your thoughts on the steps taken by Obama in his first weeks? Do you agree with granting states these rights? When should the federal government intervene when states are excerising their rights?
So this is my blog...not really sure what I am going to do with it, but I had to create it for two of my classes in my masters program at ASU. Last week I turned in my final paper and I am graduating next week. But I still have this blog. So I guess I will continue to write and see where it takes me. :)
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have class together once again :)
Since you read my blog, you know I am happy with the steps Obama has taken in his first few weeks. I definitely think states should have the right to make their own requirements, because the continuation of environmental irresponsibility does directly affect each state. California has a huge pollution problem and more drivers and traffic that most states; therefore it makes sense that they would want to have these kinds of regulations.
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, that President Obama has set a tone for his administration. He is looking at multiple issues that impact our country, not just the obvious ones (the economy and the war). To address your questions, I think the steps that President Obama took were positive steps in the right direction to improve our environment. The Bush Administration did not make great leaps in making changes in our current behaviors and it is encouraging to see the Obama Administration move environmental issues to the top of the federal agenda. I agree with granting individual states the right to create more stringent emission rules. However, I do believe that the federal government should make the national standards higher. I believe the current standards are too conservative and we need to do more.
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as well (and Patty too). As long as the framework doesn't allow states to adopt lower standards for environmental protection than federal standards, they should have the right to create their own rules. Luckily there are a few states on the cutting edge of some environmental policymaking (like Oregon and Minnesota). Allowing these states to implement their own environmental policies provides a testing ground for innovative ideas when it comes to environmental protection. Once these policies prove successful, other states (and potentially the federal government) may be justified in adopting similar policies. I hope that California (and the other 13 states involved) will lead the way to stricter auto emission standards across the rest of the country.
That is a really good point about lowering of standards. I didnt think of it from that standpoint. Maybe if the federal government could place minimum standards for the states to follow and then they are free to increase standards on what their state needs most. Although some may see that as too much federal power. The state vs. federal is an interesting debate and it is clear why not much gets done.
ReplyDelete