Environmentalism Review

Prior to 1970 and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency there were few concerns for what was happening to the environment as a result of manufacturing, industry, energy or the like. Walter Rosenbaum brings life to this concern is his book Environmental Politics and Policy. He served as a staff member of the EPA for a number of years, which makes him well accredited to write about environmental policy in America. He has done extensive work in the field of energy and the environment. He has written numerous books throughout his career focusing on particular issues in environmental policy, but also does his best to give a broad overview of the most relevant issues in America as well. He has continually revised Environmental Politics and Policy to keep it current and up to date. It is found to be a great teaching aid because it gives such a great overview of policy along with focusing on the major issues of today.

Rosenbaum breaks the book down into two parts; the first half of the book he explains the context and describes the policy process, and in the second half he writes specifically about the major issues of today. He begins the first chapter by discussing the creation of the environmental movement dating back to the 1970’s beginning with President Richard Nixon. The first Earth Day was held during Nixon’s time in office. This is seen as the “Big Bang of U.S. environmental politics”. America was attempting to launch a program that had never been attempted or experienced in any other country.

Over the past four decades it seems that presidential nominees have used the environmental platform to manipulate the electorate. They make promises in hopes of gaining the support of the environmentalist, but i...

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...that cost-effective, cost-effecting, and cost-saving approaches are created so that regulation can be effective.

The American public generally overlooks environmental problems or they do not understand what the federal policy is attempting to achieve. Rosenbaum is attempting to educate the public with his book Environmental Politics and Policy. He goes into great detail about the history of the environmental movement, and the struggles of implementing the policy. Environmentalism is something that everyone should be in favor of; it truly can improve the everyday life of all Americans. There is nothing to lose by accepting the regulations; they just provide a better environment for the public. It is important to understand why these policies are so hard to implement because of outside influence like big businesses, but the public should support the policies.