Has our government ever solved a big issue?

Question

Has our government ever solved a big issue?

Answer 1

You mean big, like slavery? Yes.

Or you mean a big environmental issue, like CFC production that causes the ozone hole? Yes.

Answer 2

Yes, tons.  Just as one example, FDR pulled us out of the Great Depression.

In terms of environmental issues, we've cleaned up our air and water, for starters.  We also stopped acid rain, global cooling, and the hole in the ozone layer.

The former 2 were mainly caused by SO2 emissions, which were increasing rapidly up until about 1970.  Then the US (and other countries) passed Clean Air Acts, and SO2 emissions have decreased since 1980 (see pages 12-14 in the link below).

http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/ext...

For the hole in the ozone layer, we engaged in the Montreal Protocol and phased-out clorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions in 1996.  The hole is now slowly repairing itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_pr...

Answer 3

Not without a war, no.

Answer 4

No - Just like prohibition caused more bootleg alcohol, and the war on drugs gives us more addicts, and the war on terror creates more suicide bombers, the war on poverty creates more poor, the war on carbon will only give us more pollution.

Already mercury is found in excess levels in almost all fish, the gvmt is forcing mercury filled lights on us as a "cure" for pollution while the democrats give more subsidies to the oil and coal corporations.

The war on carbon will only create a dependency for the gvmt to create more carbon, as they need the carbon as an excuse to get bigger so they can better fight to reduce carbon.

The better solution is to build more nuclear power plants and ending the gvmt monopoly's on electric corporations.  Let electric corporations compete for customers by providing us power with less pollution.

Answer 5

Actually no, but more funding and another study will surely solve that issue.

Answer 6

We did OK with WWII.  I think that is it though. Other than that it seems to complicate issues.

Answer 7

Yes, Dana and Keith give some good examples.

Not only are world governments taking important first steps with the IPCC and the Kyoto Protocol, but the Bush Administration is actively working on identification and mitigation of our carbon contributions to global warming right now, despite the phony skepticism they pretend to have in public to please their corporate puppetmasters:

http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sa...

http://co2conference.org/agenda.asp