Do we really need the EPA? I like the fact that I don’t have to wonder if my water is safe to drink, but who is responsible for that? Did the EPA do it or is it better covered at the local level? There are, of course, regulations that make sense. I can’t drill for oil in my back yard and contaminate a local stream. I can’t empty the contents of my RV’s “facilities” into a local storm sewer(thank you Christmas Vacation).
Here’s an idea. Shut down the EPA, repeal EVERY regulation they have ever enacted, and put the job in the only place the Constitution allows…the states! Article 1 Section 8 says what the Fed is allowed to do. I don’t see environmental protection listed anywhere. The 10th Amendment gives everything else(not protected by the Constitution)to the states. For instance, no state can legally enact gun control laws because they are prohibited by the 2nd Amendment. Chicago’s gun laws are illegal! Detroit’s gun control laws are illegal! DC? That’s up for debate because it’s not actually part of the US(District of Columbia…for those who know their history). No state can tell me that I can’t read The Bible…or Mein Kampf. I can be Catholic or Jewish or Protestant or Mormon…or atheist…because of the 1st Amendment. Now, back to the EPA. Most of what they claim to cover is already protected by free market competition. If I sell contaminated tomato sauce, I’ll either lose my customers to competitors or be sued out of business. Most likely, I’ll be horrified and pull my product off the shelves to prevent further illnesses, then work to discover how the error happened.
But there might still be a place for a state version of EPA. I’m just saying I’m ok with it at the state level as part of the congressional process! I would NEVER give them free reign to enact whatever they want! They can submit proposals to the congress which would require 2/3 vote to enact any restriction and I would give the governor veto power with 3/4 congress needed to override. Anything that is government controlled(water…sewage…etc)with no competition, should have some over site. How it is managed would vary from state to state. That’s the beauty of the 10th Amendment. It encourages competition between states to find the best solution. Successes will be copied, failures will be abandoned!
jimaw63 