Majoritarian Politics
Pollution from Automobiles
The Clean Air Act of 1970 was made to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
To meet these rough standards, every state in the U.S had to reduce the emission of hazardous gases by 90%.
This was a very tall order for the automobile industry, partly because these new cars had to be produced in less than 6 years. The automobile industry struggled with ways to come up with a solution to meet these standards stated by the Clean Air Act of 1970.
Eventually, the industries coughed up the idea of what they called a catalytic converter. This converter acted like a water filter in the refrigerator, it got rid of the bad and let the good come out.
This was the idea behind the catalyst converter. Unfortunately, the rise in the costs of cars disappointed the population. Besides, these converters would do little to stop the increasing smog levels of big cities like Denver, Los Angeles, and New York.
To meet these rough standards, every state in the U.S had to reduce the emission of hazardous gases by 90%.
This was a very tall order for the automobile industry, partly because these new cars had to be produced in less than 6 years. The automobile industry struggled with ways to come up with a solution to meet these standards stated by the Clean Air Act of 1970.
Eventually, the industries coughed up the idea of what they called a catalytic converter. This converter acted like a water filter in the refrigerator, it got rid of the bad and let the good come out.
This was the idea behind the catalyst converter. Unfortunately, the rise in the costs of cars disappointed the population. Besides, these converters would do little to stop the increasing smog levels of big cities like Denver, Los Angeles, and New York.
NEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): a United States environmental law that established a U.S. national policy promoting the enhancement of the environment.
Effects of NEPA:
NEPA's most significant effect was to set up procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs). EAs and EISs contain statements of the environmental effects of proposed federal agency actions. NEPA's procedural requirements apply to all federal agencies in the executive branch.
Majoritarian Politics when People Believe Costs Are Low
Effects of NEPA:
NEPA's most significant effect was to set up procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs). EAs and EISs contain statements of the environmental effects of proposed federal agency actions. NEPA's procedural requirements apply to all federal agencies in the executive branch.
Majoritarian Politics when People Believe Costs Are Low
- Requires environmental impact statement (EIS)
- Does not require specific action
- Passed Congress with overwhelming support
- But encouraged numerous lawsuits that block or delay projects
- Popular support remains strong: costs appear low, benefits high
- Increased gasoline taxes
- Would discourage driving, save fuel, and reduce smog
- Most would pay, most would benefit
- But costs come long before benefits
- And benefits may not be obvious
- Easier to raise gas tax if benefits are concrete, for example, highways, bridges, and so on.