Pollution Control Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pollution Control Issues - Essay Example Introduction to Policy Area Pollution control is a major policy area of not only national but also global importance. We generally agree that pollution of land, water, and air should be controlled. But when it is the question of designing these controls or ascertaining that how much control is sufficient, major disagreements begin to surface. In this regard, Crandall states, â€Å"In 1970, popular concern about environmental degradation coalesced into a major political force, resulting in President Richard Nixon’s creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the first of the major federal attempts to regulate pollution directly—the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970.† With the lapse of time, the federal government took several regulatory majors through the EPA. Non government organizations, research organizations, civil activists, etc. also got involved in the process. The contemporary trend in this policy area is to consider market based metho ds and strategies for pollution control. According to many legislators and lobbyists, the traditional command and control model is not working effectively enough. Classic Iron Triangle Structure Before describing what the classic iron triangle in the context of pollution control would look like, let’s focus on the concept of iron triangle itself. In U.S. politics, iron triangle defines the threefold interaction between the congressional committees, the interest groups, and the governmental agencies. Clientele directed executive functionary mechanism is the main characteristic of iron triangle, which may harm or neglect the greater public interest and provide benefit to the interest groups that are mainly formed of powerful corporate bodies (Hix, 251). The diagram below represents the iron triangle in the sphere of pollution control policy area. In the case of the policy area of pollution control, at one corner of the triangle will be the U.S. Congress Senate Committee on Envi ronment and Public Works, which is a major congressional committee that provides oversight and funds. On the other corner, there will be the EPA, which is a part of bureaucracy, or in other words, the executive of the governmental agencies. At the third corner, there will be the interest groups, which are major corporate bodies, particularly the energy and chemical giants. Significance of Issue Networks Issue networks can be defined as allied structures of several individuals and interest groups that attempt to promote an issue in the federal policy making and think tank. Landy and Milkis think that issue networks are instrumental in balancing rights and democracy vis-a-vis the political tradition and formation of sub-government of iron triangles. Issue networks are a sort of fluid mechanism that would provide the constituency of general public a practical and supple organization, which can accelerate a sustained civil action. In the context of pollution control we can say that the powerful corporations pursue the Congress members and EPA to loosen the regulations so that less money can be invested to obtain improved pollution controlling technologies that are relatively costlier or call for industrial unit replacements. Pollution control issue network can become a contextual counterbalancing factor, where people will have voice. Research organizations, civil activists, non government agencies, independent observers, social

Main Stream Rap causes social problems in minority communities Essay

Main Stream Rap causes social problems in minority communities - Essay Example Such portrayal highlights negative stereotypes and suggests lesser moral and ethical standards for African Americans compared to that of other American citizens. The vast majority of popular programming displays African Americans in stereotypical dispositions that beg the assumption that blacks gain prosperity strictly through the avenues of sports and entertainment, not education. Thus, many black youth develop unrealistic goals and dreams that lead to dead end lifestyles. Many of the most popular television and music attractions aimed towards black audiences promotes the worship of money, drugs, sex, violence, and disrespect to authority. Those themes are in direct conflict with the themes of the â€Å"American Dream† which guarantees success to those who strive for education and commit to a lifetime of hard work. Mass media glorification of the black entertainer coupled with the seemingly blind eye given by mass media to blacks excelling in other areas outside of sports and entertainment give black youth a limited scope of ambition while leading many down the path highlighted by the many social and economic problems present today in the black community. II Abstract The factors that affect the academic and athletic experiences of the African Americans relate to cultural, economic and stereotyping factors. The last factor is mainly psychological. The Whites generally approves an African American while he excels in the area of sports and entertainment whereas he does not wish him well in the fields related to excellence of intellect. The purpose of this study is to explore and explain the threat of stereotypes amongst the African Americans and that threat is mainly from sportspersons and the stars of the entertainment industry. The younger generation turns out to be their blind followers and that they do by neglecting education. Discriminatory treatment of African Americans in fields other than entertainment and sports is also an issue. Racial socializat ion is also a factor that creates hurdles in their path of career advancement in other areas. Unable to counter several multifaceted factors like financial, social and historical they submit to the easy options available and look forward to the role models in the avenues of entertainment and sports. As for the psychological agony they often experience, the impact of the historical context cannot be ruled out. Role models, sports stars, media and family environment continue to influence their dispositions at the cost of education. III Introduction Mass media plays the dominant role in depicting and shaping the personality of the African Americans. But the prime goal of the media is to increase their audience, consequently profits, unfortunately though. Their favorite subjects are drug use, gang violence, violence and all sorts of antisocial dispositions. Thus media has contributed to wrong and unfriendly opinion about the African Americans. The media have enough historical stuff to m ake stories and continue to picture African Americans as second-class citizens. As such African Americans continue to