Paper Outline

            The question that I will be answering in my research paper is why is it so difficult for environmental legislation to be passed in congress?  This is an extremely relevant topic because a certain amount of regulation is needed to make the earth a sustainable place that will not be destroyed by the human race.  For example big corporations are producing massive amounts of pollution and releasing it into the atmosphere and not paying for their pollution.  This creates a sense of entitlement for firms to continue to release their waste at a minimum cost.  Without any regulation/delayed regulation, the consequences such as global warming, acid rain, and the hole in the ozone layer will continue to get worse and potentially destroy the planet.  The time is CLEARLY now to act on our environmental problems.  Firms need to feel the cost of polluting the environment.  Why have there been limited efforts from local, state and the federal government?

            To help answer this question I will be examining a bill that was circulated around Congress but never passed in to law.  The Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act was created by Jim Matheson, a congressman from Utah’s second district who is on the Science and Technology Committee.  It was created on February 10, 2009 by the 111th Congress, 1st Session, and has still not been passed.  The bill asks for $20 million dollars for the years 2010-2014 for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a research and development program that promotes water efficiency and conservation. This program will include research into new technology, as well as better storage and distribution systems aimed at achieving more efficient water use.  I will argue that this bill has not been passed because the PUBLIC believes that there are more salient issues in the United States.  Therefore elected officials focus on issues that the public wants in order to achieve another term in office (Re-election).  Issues, such as the environment, get pushed to the back burner because of this.  With this being said my thesis is:  The Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act is a bill that has not been passed which is direct evidence that politicians have their own personal agenda instead of doing what is best for the American people.

            I intend to prove my thesis by using readings from Carter on the Median Voter Theory (MVT).  This theory states that political parties will move their platform closer to the center of the political spectrum in order to attract the “swing” or median voter. For example Republicans will create a more liberal platform than they personally believe in, while Democrats will do that same to be more Conservative.  Parties believe that they will always get the vote of their die hard followers, even if they move their platform in the opposite directions.  This creates two parties with very slight differences.  It also creates policies that are popular, not necessarily important. 

            I further will prove my thesis by explaining how elected officials behave when they are in office.  These officials work hard to please the public by passing popular policy.  This is done to be reelected or to possibly move up the political chain (Mayor to Governor, Governor to Senator…).  They will make sure they are promoting what is salient to the public.  Only when their goals are accomplished will political actors start supporting policy that is ACTUALLY important.

           

            This strategy may have its weaknesses. For example, not all public popular interests are anti-environment.  Also politicians are able to find ways to please his/her electors and also address interests that are actually vital to the success of the nation/globe.  I will provide a paragraph or two solely addressing these weaknesses in my theory but I will also plan to point them out through the essay.

Outline

A.   Introduction

1.     Introduce primary question (Why is it so difficult for environmental legislation to be passed in congress?) 

2.     Saliency of question. (The globe is facing severe environmental problems and we need politicians to act to help address the situation).

3.     State Thesis: Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act is a bill that has not been passed which is direct evidence that politicians have their own personal agenda instead of doing what is best for the American people.

B.    Body (Part 1)

1.     Introduce Bill.

2.     List what the bill asks for.

3.     Summarize debates in congress.

4.     Explain the science and technology committee.

C.    Body (Part 2)

1.     Define Median Voter Theorem.

2.     Explain implications (political parties become similar).

3.     Explain effects on political actors (Introduce popular policy to get reelected instead of SMART policy).

D.   Body (Part 3)

1.     Further explain why elected officials don’t introduce smart policy.

2.     Natural to try to get reelected and please the population.

3.     Politicians try to move up in power (Mayor to Governor, Governor to Senator).

4.     Catch 22 have to against the people to truly do a good job but need the people to get elected.

E.   

     Body (Weaknesses)

1.     Public interests are not always anti environment (Anti Smart.)

2.     Politicians have adopted ways to be smart and please the public.

F.    Conclusion

1.     Summarize Bill.

2.     Summarize MVT.

3.     Summarize political actors actions.

4.     Restate thesis.

Questions

1. What are the current efforts to make Bloomington, and the Indiana University campus a more sustainable and more environmental friendly place?

2. How do you quantitively meassure sustainability on campus or in Bloomington?

3. What resources do you have to help achieve your sustainability goals?