Kadoka High School
Kadoka, South Dakota
Teacher: Teresa Shuck
Government As Regulator
By: Rhiannon Wright
11th grade
The government has too much power when it comes to regulation. So many things in this country are going wrong and could possibly be prevented. Some laws passed seem to even have more of a negative affect on the public rather than a positive. If we made some changes in the way our system works than maybe we might face less problems and there would be lesser chance of a disagreement among the citizens when it came down to the Government regulations.
An example of a government regulation that is out of hand is that the law requires standardized tests. Not all students who have to take this test learn at the same level or retain the same information. This could be a potential problem to some. If a student were to fail a standardized test, what would be the reaction of the government who made these tests required? Would they believe the student was poorly educated? Who are we to judge people by tests? It is not fair to all of the people who learn in different ways and at different speeds. These tests should not be an essential part of ones learning, and should not be a requirement in ones education out of fairness to the people and their different learning abilities.
Another regulation is one addressing licensing for businesses. In the reading, it talked about a young girl who owned her own hair salon. It was shut down because she did not have a license to practice cosmetology and she was not of legal age to own her own business. Other licensed salons complained that she was taking away their customers and saw it as not being right since she had not attended hair school but she would not be able to until she reached the age of eighteen. She told how she believed that having her own business taught her how to be independent and it shows that she was learning just how responsible she had to be to hold down her own business. If the government has regulations like that, than how would the youth of today be able to show how responsible they can be and how much good they are capable of? Sure there are other ways for the teens to show responsibility, hard work, and good judgment, but there can’t possibly be enough jobs out there for us younger ones. Having a business and being able to run it financially and legally would be a good way for people young in age to gain experiences for life’s greater tasks if some one were to want to be able to do something that great for society and make a living from it as well. If this would be possible, than we should look at it as an opportunity of a lifetime, not as something one must be greatly qualified for.
Above all, many issues dealing with the government have brought a great deal of concern to environmentalists. Some people are only out to better the place we live, so why does it seem that when environmentalists share their concern for our habitat, many people look away as if the whatever law that is affecting them is supposed to be right just because it was laid down by the government. We need to realize that times have changed and this is our world. We need to take care of it and do all we can to better it rather than destroy it. We, as a nation need to start getting involved in decisions that affect us as a whole. We should have the right to decide on some of the issues brought up by the government and have inputs on what we feel is right, as well. To be able to vote on a regulation might help the way things turn out and could prevent possible and unnecessary drama.
These are some examples of regulation in which the government has entirely too much power. Having the option to voice your opinion or cast your vote might make the world of difference in changing the way society works today and the way these regulations affect our nation as a whole. The way we feel about certain regulations should be analyzed and thought about thoroughly before the government decides they need to be reinforced upon us and the same goes with future regulations. Then maybe would we be able to better manage the way we live and the way we handle future situations that bring trouble our way. Taking a stand on regulation will help us one day at time better our lives.
Q1. What is the only way to prevent hijackers from gaining control of an airplane according to the unknown author?
Answer: There is only one way to prevent hijackers from gaining control of an airplane and that is by hardening the cockpit. There is no way to gain access other then explosives, which are easily screened on the ground. No one is able to get in or out during a flight.
Q2.
What are the arguments given by lobbyists for the Bells in favor
of HR 1542 (Tauzin-Dingell Bill) and arguments given by their opponents against
this legislation?
CQ May 5 p 1012
Answer: Some arguments given by lobbyists for the Bells in favor of HR 1831 (Tuazin-Dingell Bill) are that the this bill would speed deployment of broadband services and help jump-start the information technology sector. The United States Telecom Association, the primary lobbying group for Bells, argues that its members need regulatory relief to compete with cable television companies and other high-speed Internet providers. Some opponents include long-distance carriers such as AT&T Corp., competitive local exchange phone carriers, Internet service providers and other consumer groups.
Q3.
Why do small-business groups like HR 1831? From the small amount
of information presented in your required reading, do you think the legislation
is a good idea? Why?
CQ May 19 p. 1161
Answer: Small business groups like HR 1831 because this bill would protect the companies that discard less then 110 gallons of liquid waste or less then 200 pounds of solid, non-hazardous waste at a superfund site. Some supporters of this bill say it’s main purpose is to protect businesses that have not significantly harmed the environment from being sued by large polluters that want to get back some of the money they have spent on government-mandated clean up costs.
Q4.
Give an argument in favor of government regulating activities
such as roller blading and bungee jumping.
Governing, March 1993 p 23
Answer: An argument I have against the government regulating roller-blading is that in my opinion it would not be fair. In the reading it says that the government referred to roller-bladers as a new breed of skaters-most of them adults. I don’t think this is true because roller-blading is a pastime that can be enjoyed by any one. It shouldn’t result in a fine when people roller-blade and although some might think they are putting them selves in danger when roller-blading, its not everyday where you hear accidents have been caused because some one was roller-blading so I think it should not be looked at from that perspective.
Q5.
Define a “burden hour.”
CQ ‘April 28 p. 896
Answer: A burden hour is the time it takes to collect data and fill out federal forms, surveys, and reports.
Q6.
Why was Connecticut Senator, Joseph Lieberman, concerned enough
to vote against the nomination of Professor John Graham as administrator of the
office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the current Bush administration?
CQ May 26 p 1229
Answer: Connecticut Senator, John Lieberman, was concerned enough to vote against the nomination of Professor John Graham as administrator of the office of Information and Regulatory affair in the current Bush administration because he felt that John Graham’s past criticisms of clean air and clean water statues questioned whether he would weaken federal health, environment, and safety standards.
Q6a. Graham is a proponent of “risk analysis.” How is risk analysis defined on page 992 of the May 5, 2001 issue of Congressional Quarterly Weekly?
Answer: Graham is a proponent of “risk analysis.” His risk analysis is defined in the May 5, 2001 issue of Congressional Quarterly Weekly by saying he skewed data to support the claims of corporate donors to the Harvard center.
Q6b. Who
was the first president to order federal agencies to weigh potential costs and
benefits when writing a rule?
CQ May5 2001 p 993
Answer: The first president to order federal agencies to weigh potential costs and benefits when writing a rule was Jimmy Carter.
Q6.
How much would compliance with OSHA’s regulations to limit
injuries or disabilities from performing repetitive tasks cost according to an
estimate by business groups as reported in the 2000 CQ Almanac? What was the
response of OSHA and Labor Department officials?
CQ Almanac p 2-111
Answer: Compliance with OSHA’s regulations to limit injuries or disabilities from performing repetitive tasks would cost the companies an estimated range from $14 billion to $80 billion dollars a year. This would also affect the businesses productivity and profitability. OSHA says this would cost the companies $4.2 billion dollars annually, but would save them $9 billion a year in lost productivity.
Q7. What was the makeup of the
“iron triangle” during the Reagan years and what do environmentalists and
consumer activists foresee as its composition in the current Bush
administration?
CQ May 5 p 990
Answer: The “iron triangle”, an unbreakable alliance, was made up of Democratic committee chairmen, agency officials, and interest groups. Environmentalists and consumer activists sat they fear the formation of a new triad-composed of industry officials, the White House and GOP committee chairmen leaving them out of the question.
Q8.
Name 5 actions of the Bush administration that have drawn criticism
from Environmentalists.
CQ May 5, 2001 p. 994 and 995
Answer: Five actions of the Bush Administration that have drawn criticism from environmentalists were: President Bush reneged on a campaign pledge to regulate carbon dioxide and by rejecting the Kyoto Protocol on global warning. Bush also upheld the Clinton’s rules restricting wetlands development and lowering the levels at which factories must report lead emissions.
Q9.
What did the executive order issued by Ronald Reagan in 1981 and
still in effect today, requires agencies to prove before new regulations were
enacted? How did the Democratic House counter in 1986?
CQ May 5, 2001 p. 995
Answer: Ronald Reagan beefed up the agency’s oversight power by issuing an executive order in 1981 that required agencies to prove that regulations ‘s benefits would “outweigh” its cost- a standard Democrat said was often tough to prove.
Q10.
On the average, how long does it take to build an airport? A
highway?
CQ May 19, 2001 p 1163
Answer: On average, it takes 12 years to build a highway and 15 years to build and airport.
Q11.
Discuss the pros and cons of licensing requirements.
Wall Street Journal June 18, 1993
Answer: A pro of licensing requirements according to the Wall Street Journal is that with her salon shut down, Monique can’t pose as a threat to other licensed hair salons by taking their business. A con is that by taking away Monique’s salon, she now no longer thinks she is able to be independent and free.
Q12.
Discuss the pros and cons of master plans and planning departments.
Taking A Stand On Regulation pp 80-82
Answer: Pros and cons of the master plans and the planning departments are as follows: A pro is that the idea of master plans and planning department is to look ahead and prevent damage. A con is that some citizens are not qualified, yet cast their opinions.