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Public Policy Analysis Of Fossil Fuels

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Fossil fuels have played a pivotal role in the development of society since the time of the Industrial Revolution. As a result, our dependency upon fossil fuels has not only improved our way of life, but also risen questions regarding our use of these energy sources and their adverse impacts on the environment. Given the results of scientific studies and the knowledge gained from them over the past several decades, society itself has done very little to move forward as a whole to push for cleaner and less destructive ways to produce energy. Despite the results of many models projecting the supply of fossil fuels running out anywhere between 2050 and 2100, capitalist economies continue to exploit and surpass the limits of reasonable use of oil, coal, and natural gas. This paper will not only discuss a relevant article by Merrill Singer and my position arguing …show more content…

Guess and Paul G. Farnham discuss cost-benefit analysis in their book Cases in Public Policy Analysis. Cost-benefit analysis is a policy tool that aims to “place a dollar value on the outcomes of a program or intervention” (Guess 315). This policy tool also compares to cost-effectiveness analysis that looks at the benefits gained. Combined, the two tools show whether or not a policy or program would benefit society as a whole and make use of resources effectively. Efficiency in regards to cost-benefit analysis has been criticized as an issue dealing with income discrepancies is suggested to be irrelevant in the process; however, with existing policies, goods can be easily accessible for those with lower incomes. Also considered with cost-benefit analysis, the issue of “standing” can bias decision if other parties are not considered in calculation and affect financing. Cost-benefit analysis also attempts to calculate a “with or without” situation regarding a program and its effects in relation to either decision. This measures the values associated with program

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They are two crucial aspects to the topic of energy, but are not included by the UN. A determinant reason that millions of people across the globe have to resort to biomass to cook is that the cost associated with modern energy makes it less accessible (Birol, p.1). This unfortunate situation is due to many reasons. A key reason is that many of the resources required to install energy plants are disproportionally controlled by a few geopolitical actors. This causes large fluctuations on the commodity prices all over the globe, making not only modern energy, but also other basic human development targets, such as shelters and transportations less attainable (Regnier, p.2).

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On the same hand, it was discovered that “most of the nation’s energy efficient provinces are located along the coast of southeast China, while most of its energy inefficient provinces are located in the hinterland that is rich in coal resources and depends heavily on coal consumption” (Pan, Zhang, and Zhang, 2012), proving that fossil fuels are a direct detriment to energy

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In the following article, the author, George Will, stresses that here in America cutting back on coal will not change the burning of coal around the world such as China, Russia, India, and other countries. For instance, China had signed a 60 billion dollar contract to supply power plants with Australian coal. The Times says that in China, their ships hauled about 690 million tons of thermal coal this year; up from 385 million in 2001 and 150 million tons in 2009. He addresses to counterargument by including a spokesman in the Sierra club who mentions that mining is "everything we 've accomplished, ' ' but environmentalists in America protested that mining shall also export global warming, if continues. Because of China 's enormous coal

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My general overview of this article is the methods used to obtain fossil fuels is hurting people and nature all around the world. People are beginning to come to a realization about how fracking is harming the world. However, people in cities like “Buffalo, New York, Pennsylvania, and the author’s hometown

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Hart questions whether, “extracting and using more fossil fuels for the sake of economic gain [is] in our best interest- or that of the future generations?” (Hart, 28). The negative effects of burning fossil fuel add up to create an overall warmer climate impacting not only this generation’s current environment, but also the generations to come. This makes the reader question whether the offshore oil drilling is really worth the environmental impact on climates for not only them but future generations as

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1603 Words | 7 Pages

Another benefit from switching to clean-burning natural gas is a decrease in pollutants in the air, which will decrease airborne illnesses and premature deaths. He discusses the impact of energy independence for countries that rely on insecure regions for their energy needs. For example, the U.S. will rely less on the Middle East, Europe will rely less on Russia and India will rely less on Iran. By presenting fracking as the answer to the world’s problems, Pierce counters the arguments of critics who cite the environmental problems of fracking. His paper is one-sided because he leaves out the other side of the debate by ignoring any negative aspects of fracking.

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In this essay, I will argue that the environmental and energy crisis of the 1970s, did usher in a period of decline in the United States. The beginning of the 1970’s was an era, where Americans were under-siege with energy and environmental decline. In the early 1970’s the United States oil consumption was at an all-time high, while the domestic oil production was declining. Foreign dependence was steadily rising.

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It is fair to say that most would not want to live in a world without electricity, but if society cannot agree on an energy to use, this imaginary world could become a very real way of life. “Citizens and community members everywhere are seeking smart solutions to our biggest problem - the ecological collapse” (“Top 10 Pros and Cons” 1). The United States’ economy has been fueled by fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. Then, the early 1900s introduced a new, versatile source, oil. Through the 1950s, most Americans viewed rapid economic growth and high consumer spending as positive trends but this prosperity was fouling air and water and damaging natural resources.

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This program would tax the general population and businesses on their excess use of fossil fuels. The money generated from this tax has been consistently argued about were it should be spent, however, a well liked solution has begun to emerge; putting the money towards renewable energy research projects. This would begin to break the debt-based fossil fuel cycle by providing consumers with another alternative (Conners). A carbon tax would force factories, businesses and the general population to become aware of their actions, helping to “change destructive environmental behaviour” (Conners). With an expense placed on carbon emissions, there would be a drop in extreme consumption of fossil fuels, as a result, people and businesses would adjust to more sustainable methods of

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Have you ever wondered what our children, and grandchildren’s lives will be like? We Screwed Up; A Letter of Apology to my Granddaughter (Ward, 2012) is a letter written by Chip Ward to his four year old granddaughter and her possible unborn siblings. He speaks clearly about the devastation that past generations have caused to the planet we all call home, although he fails to provide any evidence concerning what he claims, as well as majorly lacks appreciation for the organizations already working towards a better tomorrow. Chip Ward begins his letter with an apology to his granddaughter and her siblings for using up all of the oil. He claims that, “We are all gas-hogs, plain and simple” (Ward, 2012), in regards to his generation and those

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government has demonstrated the effectiveness of an egalitarian system through policies that advocate equity. One example of this is Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted by President Obama on March 23, 2010. The Affordable Care Act does what it says; it makes healthcare affordable for low-income citizens. Not only does it give low-income citizens the opportunity to purchase health care that would otherwise only be affordable to the upper-class, but it also provides positive secondary long-term effects. The article It Easy for Obamacare Critics to Overlook the Merits of Medicaid Expansion explains that “children whose eligibility [for medicaid] increased were more likely to go to college, earn higher wages and pay more taxes by the time they were 28 years old.”

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In other words, it costs less to solve the problem than manage it. It is efficient to spend a lot of money on a few people than it is to spend a little money on a lot of people. The huge part of the decision should be bottom-lined oriented, but it should also be based on the outcomes of the solution. If the program betters individuals to be productive citizens it would benefit the economy and society in the long

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In addition, when subsidizing necessity goods and services such as education, the effects of this subsidy will also be noticeable in the long term (Schultz, 2001). Schultz (2001) analyzes a program where education is subsidized for poor families in Mexico. His analysis shows that subsidies stimulate poor children to study, which in the long term lead to better jobs. When those poor children are given the ability to get educated well and find a good job, they will also have the ability to earn a higher salary (Schultz, 2001). The individual can spend this money on goods which will increase his or her personal wealth but also increase production in industries.

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The opposition to the abolition of welfare may say that welfare programs do in fact reduce the poverty levels in America. While it is true that poverty is reduced by almost

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Fossil fuels  Fossil fuels are NOT a renewable energy resource it will finish up one day As once we 've burned them all, there isn 't any more, and our consumption of fossil fuels has nearly doubled every 20 years since 1900. This is a particular problem for Oil, because we also use it to make plastics and many other products  Coal, Oil and Gas are called "fossil fuels" because they have been formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric plants and animals. 

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