What to fight for
Most of Green Living we do as individuals. But on some issues, we cannot act alone.
New urbanism
County governments talk about new construction being pedestrian-friendly instead of sprawl, but are they actually doing it? Keep up with what is happening with development in your area.
Immigration reform
With so much else on his plate, Obama hasn't gotten to this one. But this is not something to be ignored.
What would happen if all the "illegal aliens" were suddenly deported?
There would be no food, because no one would grow it, transport it, or sell it. All restaurants would be closed. You couldn't go to work because you couldn't pump gas in your car—no one's at the gas station. Which is just as well because if the car had broken down it wouldn't be fixed, the roads are not repaired, and you don't have a babysitter. Also, the offices are closed because there is no one to maintain or clean them.
Maybe we now know why there never has been serious enforcement of immigration laws. But this is hardly fair to those who work so hard for the rest of us, living two or three families to an apartment (to you who complain about this: Do they have a choice?), and always looking over their shoulder. I've heard people ask "Why are they here?" A very stupid and naive question. The real question is, how did conditions become so bad in Latin America and elsewhere? An interesting history to read up on, and guess which government plays a leading role.
There is currently almost no way for an immigrant to become legal, no "procedure to follow." There needs to be. It can require a tested knowledge of English and of in-demand job skills so that potential immigrants put their effort into passing such tests instead of into paying a "coyote" to sneak them into the country. But it needs to happen.
Unbiased media
The traditional broadcast and print media are fading into nothingness as you read this, but they aren't gone yet. The "objective" media show their true colors when they promote a buy now/pay later mentality. Advertising-supported media are not objective because of who pays the bills. In general they promote a destructive lifestyle. But letters to the editor, emails, and phone calls pointing out such a bias can help, since many journalists are conscientious people. Is that huge story about new cars genuine news? Does the newspaper pretend that "pro-business" means "screw the consumer" and "the heck with the environment"? If so, they are ignoring thousands of well-meaning business owners. Does the newspaper or TV program talk about the Gross National Product, but ignore whether people have food, housing, and healthcare (what about a Good Living Index)?
Alternative energy
Federal, state, and local governments now offer many substantial incentives that encourage solar energy. That is a good thing. Almost no one knows that these incentives exist or how to use them. That is a bad thing. Although I am not a fan of government incentives in general, I do not see another way over the hump of paying the large upfront costs of solar. Alternative energy is also not on an even playing field, since the government has been subsidizing fossil fuels for decades (think highways, parking lots, airports, and outright bailouts of car companies).
Lower basic household bills
It makes more sense, as public policy, to find ways to lower basic household bills than it does to pay for social programs to alleviate the problems caused by high basic bills. Development plans should always include pleasant but affordable apartments. Utilities, which are supposedly competitive, aren't. They can charge anything, and need to be stopped from doing so. Local phone and internet services often have only one or two providers, with no oversight. (Should it cost $50 to receive basic phone service, even with a profit margin?) Insurance companies often do anything they want and charge whatever they want, since the state laws governing them may sound good but have almost no enforcement power. Healthcare is a mess that hurts lower income people the hardest. Cities and towns are laid out in a way that requires cars, which greatly increases expenses. Taxes, of course, are way too high. Many are regressive, with those with lower income paying a much higher percentage of their income for the tax than those with higher incomes. Social Security, Medicare, utility, gas, and sales taxes all work this way.
Consumer protection
In addition to insurance companies, many other companies providing products and services get away with anything. Local consumer protection agencies sometimes have no subpoena power and can't get records. Their very limited punishments don't have business managers too worried. Consumer protection at all levels of government is very underfunded and unenforced. This causes huge losses of time and money. You should be able to buy something without having to worry about it.
Manufacturing that doesn't exploit
How is something made? Does it use exploited child labor? Does the manufacturing pollute the environment? Nobody knows. People just pick it up and put it in their cart. It should be easier to make a real choice.
Well-organized mass transit
You hear about how, in other countries, you can just take a bus or train and get somewhere easily. Although Green Living can cut way back on transportation needs, it doesn't eliminate them. A well-managed system with public oversight and using current development patterns would encourage more people to use it.
Green tourism
If your city or county is wanting to boost tourism, consider doing so in sustainable ways. Make sure visitors can use something other than a car—bus, van, train, walking, horseback riding, to get around, and focus on green living products and services.
More skills-intensive high schools
Many people do not go on to higher education, and are left with dead-end jobs that can't pay basic bills. Even those who will finish college often lack important work skills. And this happens when there are shortages in many lucrative fields. Although many high schools do teach some vocational, computer, and other skills, this is something that needs to be enhanced.
Computer security
Well, you know, there is none. Far too much personal information is floating around for no good reason. And the people running companies and government agencies are often computer illiterate, having no idea they shouldn't open that .zip file about a "UPS delivery." Privacy laws that are enforced, with people punished, are important. Even more vital is requiring that credit checks are thorough, and verify that the person actually applied for the credit.
Civil rights protection
If discrimination was over and done with, everyone's income would be about the same. After all, they all had the same access to good schools and good jobs, right? Is that what is going on? In 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income of non-Hispanic white households was $55,530, the income of black households was $34,218, and the income of Hispanic household was $37,913. Mmm, guess not. This is when the average monthly bills in the U.S. comes to $53,000. The worst part is that there is almost no attention to a huge problem that never went away.