Public Agenda Issue Guide: Environment

Citizens

are confronted with serious issues every minute of the day. Grasping the underlying issues from the headlines is a difficult task. Give us ten minutes a day and we will help bring clarity to the chaos of the news, policy and issues.

ON THE AGENDA

Does First Out of the Application Gate Mean Most Likely to Graduate?

Scott Bittle
Aug 12, 2010

There are people who wait until the last minute, and then there are people like high school student Cree Bautista, who holds the honor of being the being the first student in the United States to apply to college this year, a mere three hours and thirty minutes after the "common application" form went online.

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College Completion: Eyes On 2020

Francie Grace
Aug 9, 2010

President Obama heads to Austin, Texas, today for a speech in which he is expected to talk about the goal of the U.S. regaining its position as the nation with the highest percentage of college graduates (we're now #12 for citizens aged 25 to 34). For a preview of the speech, see http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/09/obama.education/; you can also watch it live at 3 p.m.

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ISSUE GUIDE: Environment

OVERVIEW

The Environment

Most ''green'' issues are presented as choices between protecting the environment and growing the economy: You can have a logging industry or save the spotted owl. You can reduce greenhouse gases or have industrial growth. You can have clean oceans or offshore oil drilling.

Most Americans, however, seem to be seeking a choice that includes and rather than just or. They tell pollsters they care about the environment and fear it will get worse, yet seem torn on how to respond and unready to accept the sacrifices that some environmentalists believe are necessary.

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CONSIDER THE CHOICES

Curb pollution through sensible regulations

Putting environmental protection in perspective

Preventing further environmental destruction

We've made progress on environmental protection, but we can't let up now. Growing awareness has led to sensible limits on our useof natural resources and pollutants that are side-effects of industrial society -- sometimes by government and sometimes by businesses themselves, who understand that it's in no one's interest to commit environmental suicide. Yet it's unrealistic to expect people to make dramatic changes in their lifestyles or give up their jobs.What's needed now are more stringent guidelines on pollution,and stepped-up enforcement ofthe laws. Through prudent regulation,we can achieve a balance between environmental protection and economic growth.
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Human beings, just by going about their daily lives, inevitably affect the environment. That's all right so long as harmful pollution is controlled.But many people act as if environmental protection is our only concern. Environmentalists have become a special interest group who insist on unreasonable and costly measures, or ones which infringe on private property rights. We certainly should protect the environment, but we need to take a careful look at the laws we've put in place to see that they are not costing us too much in money or jobs for the benefit we're getting. A strong economy is just as important as a sound environment.
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Because a safe and sound environment is the precondition for human life itself, environmental protection must take precedence over other public goals. And the fundamental problem is how Americans live -- we consume too much, waste too much and restore too little. Despite some gains, we're still making an unprecedented assault on the environment, leading to irreversible and perhaps catastrophic effects. Global warming, in particular, is a real threat that requires coordinated global action. The best option is to move toward a sustainable society where we make decisions based on how they impact future generations.Government has to go much further in reducing pollution.
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