10 Federal Programs That Failed Miserably
5. The Environmental Protection Agency
Created by an Executive Order signed by President Richard Nixon in 1970, the EPA was created to “protect human health and the environment.” These aims are allegedly achieved by writing (and enforcing) regulations based on laws passed by congress. The agency employs nearly 16,000 people and has an annual budget of nearly $8 billion dollars. Direct control of the agency is maintained by the Executive Branch, making it notoriously political. Different administrations have different goals and they nearly always have little to do with actual clean air or water. From the fuel standards of the 1970’s, to the regulation of endangered species in the 1980’s, through to the current agency goal of “Environmental Justice,” billions have been spent to make sure people do not cause environmental damage while committing environmental crimes. Except those “crimes” still occur and local governments are likely better equipped to find and punish offenders. Its hard for anyone to be in “compliance” when the EPA issues “endangerment findings” that suppose that carbon dioxide is a dangerous gas. Heaven help you should you emit more than your “fair share” of Co2, the EPA may regulate you.
