Policy Project

The United States environmental policy is the federal government’s involvement in the environment to preserve it for future generations without involving and impacting the general public. Even though many indications have been made about global warming, United States has not made a nation wide effort to addresses this problem, but rather individuals on a personal basis have been attempting to solve this environmental issue. The environment is part of the American people, and as a people we need to address it as a federal issue. I think especially with a new presidential election coming, we need to address laws and policies where citizens collectively can make a difference. First and foremost, the lack of oil and emissions of cars. The scarcity of oil and prices have increased, and the emissions of cars are still harming our ozone layer. A policy should be made on the structure and type of cars allowed on the road. Gas guzzlers cannot keeping ripping the roads. We should set a deadline and work toward a goal. Families with unsuitable cars for the environment can work toward a payment plan to switch cars. There should also be a rule on how many cars per household. Secondly, recycling and the cleaning of the air and local natural sites. Recycling has grown and expanded, but we need to expand it even further. Every home owns their own trash cans, but what if each room of each building had trashcans certified for recycling purposes. Also, student volunteers in high school and grade school complete numerous amounts of hours each year. A requirement should be made, for students to donate their time, to environmental pursuits.

Asking for Voter Identification

I read an article from the LA Times called,“Supreme Court will hear voter ID Case” by David Savage questions whether voters should show driver’s licenses or passports at the polls. Republicans believe this will prevent fraud. While Democrats argue it will deter voting of minorities, the poor, and elderly. Only a few states have adopted this including Indiana, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, and Missouri. The only problem for people, who agree with the ID, is that you cannot clearly prove the fraud that has decreased within voting or even whether it has stayed consistent or increased the number of ineligible voters.
I think this issue is especially important because of the presidential campaign right now. After the election of 2000 with Bush and Gore, voting has to be edited and more uniformed for all states, rather than an individual practice of each one. I remember a couple of weeks before Christmas break how Gwaltney had showed the class, the amount of suggestions that had been declared to make this problem not a big concern for future elections. Voting is a right, but there are too many ways where it can be manipulated and not represent the true opinion of a concerned American. The previous caucuses in Iowa and New Hampshire show that this presidential campaign is not predictable by any means, and if problems in voting don’t provide a justified election, fingers will be pointed from all angles not just two like the presidential election between Bush and Gore.