Select one of the Legislative Acts or a Presidential Directive or Executive Order concerning mitigation and comment on the policy. Discuss what works and what does not work in the policy
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Clean Air Act: An Effective Policy for Mitigating Air Pollution
Introduction
Air pollution poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. To address this issue, the United States government implemented the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 1970, which has undergone several amendments since its inception. The CAA aims to regulate and reduce air pollution by establishing emission standards for industries, promoting clean technologies, and enforcing compliance. In this essay, I will discuss the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act, highlighting its successful aspects and areas that require improvement.
Thesis Statement
Overall, the Clean Air Act has been an effective policy in mitigating air pollution through its robust regulatory framework, technological advancements, and enforcement mechanisms. However, certain challenges remain, such as the need for stricter emission standards and increased focus on emerging pollutants.
The Effectiveness of the Clean Air Act
1. Robust Regulatory Framework
The Clean Air Act’s regulatory framework has played a crucial role in curbing air pollution. It sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants, including ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. By establishing these standards, the CAA provides clear guidelines for states and industries to follow, ensuring a consistent approach to reducing air pollution nationwide.
2. Technological Advancements
One of the key strengths of the Clean Air Act is its emphasis on promoting clean technologies. The policy encourages research and development of innovative solutions to reduce emissions. This approach has led to significant advancements in emission control technologies, such as catalytic converters for automobiles and scrubbers for coal-fired power plants. These technological improvements have resulted in substantial reductions in air pollutants over the years.
3. Compliance and Enforcement
The enforcement mechanisms of the Clean Air Act are vital in ensuring compliance with emission standards. The policy empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce regulations and impose penalties on violators. In addition, the CAA provides citizens with the ability to sue entities that violate emission standards. These enforcement measures create accountability and incentivize industries to adopt cleaner practices.
Areas for Improvement
While the Clean Air Act has been successful in mitigating air pollution, there are still areas that require improvement:
1. Stricter Emission Standards
As scientific knowledge advances, it becomes evident that some emission standards set by the Clean Air Act may not be stringent enough to protect public health adequately. For example, studies have shown that exposure to even lower levels of certain pollutants can have detrimental effects on vulnerable populations. To address this concern, periodic reassessment and updating of NAAQS should be conducted to reflect the latest research findings.
2. Emerging Pollutants
The Clean Air Act primarily focuses on regulating traditional air pollutants like particulate matter and ozone. However, there is a growing need to address emerging pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases (GHGs), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These pollutants contribute to climate change, toxic air quality, and adverse health effects. Expanding the scope of the Clean Air Act to include these emerging pollutants would enhance its effectiveness in mitigating air pollution comprehensively.
3. Regional Disparities
While the Clean Air Act provides a national framework for air quality regulation, it does not fully account for regional disparities in air pollution levels. Certain areas, particularly urban centers and disadvantaged communities, may experience higher pollution levels due to proximity to industrial zones or transportation hubs. Tailoring regulations and implementing targeted measures to address these regional disparities would help ensure equitable protection for all communities.
Conclusion
The Clean Air Act has proven to be an effective policy in mitigating air pollution over the past five decades. Its robust regulatory framework, emphasis on technological advancements, and enforcement mechanisms have contributed significantly to cleaner air in the United States. However, there is room for improvement, such as updating emission standards to reflect current scientific knowledge, addressing emerging pollutants, and addressing regional disparities in air pollution. By addressing these areas, the Clean Air Act can continue to evolve and provide even greater protection for public health and the environment.
