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This question does seem extreme like Jason said, but he is right. This is something that does create debate. We see this every day. I think it really depends on the industry. There are some corporations who need to perform certain tasks, but then there are those who just abuse the system and who could cut back, but choose not to in order to save money.
Corporations need to have some freedom, but not enough to pollute the environment and put harm towards it's citizens.
The fact is that many corporations that are already going green in the US, due to consumer demand. It's kind of like the anti-trans fats law that got passed in Texas recently- restaurants are already instituting the policies that are being legislated due to consumer demand. The fact is that corporations are finding it worth their while to 'go green'- without being forced to do so because of some government requirement.
There is no Constitutional grounds for such a requirement, unless you were to go at it from the 'general welfare.' (But the government cannot legislate simply on the preamble- it is seen as an explanation of what the Constitution was intended for, not a numeration of powers.) The fact is that corporations are, largely, simply not directly under the power of Congress for this kind of thing. If they choose to go green- goody for them. If not- that's why we have private citizens and organizations, to petition businesses for this kind of thing.
I do see where you're coming from, Liberty, and agree to a certain extent. It would certainly be a lot better for corporations to go green voluntarily than having to force them by legislation.
However: The problem with your argument is that most corporations will only voluntarily go green if it's to their own clear advantage. If it costs them a lot of money and gets them no or low added visibility on the general public's green radar, it just won't happen. In a small to medium business a sense of conscience might still prevail, but with large corporations there are simply too much money and too many greedy shareholders involved.
Big corporations need big incentives to do anything at all, including going green. While it's certainly possible to sway them through public opinion and consumer demand, it's a very difficult process getting that kind of momentum built up. One, fifty or a hundred consumers contacting them will barely register on the corporate awareness. It will take thousands upon thousands and a lot of media attention to get things rolling.
For a lot of issues, getting that kind of attention within a reasonable timespan is completely unrealistic. Most people won't know about these issues for years – if ever. For those years and then some, the pollution will go on and damage the environment. Proper legislation will effectively remove that delay and prevent further pollution.
One example is manufacturers of computers and similar equipment. They've been using all kinds of unpleasant substances in their factory processes and final product. They are now being forced to remove the worst substances, because of (relatively) recent legislation being made in the EU. Without this legislation, they would still be using them, since most people know diddly squat about what goes into the manufacture of, say, a motherboard for a computer.
I think it depends on the corporation and what they do. If they can, then why not. We run an environmental analytical lab that does testing on a number of things, like drinking water, well water, sand/oil separators, soils, and a bunch of other things. Our equipment doesn't pollute, because we have abide by the TRPA and state, and the rules and regulations they set.
Since going green is the new thing to do, I would imagine that a lot of corporations are willing and trying to do what they can to help the environment.
Encouraged maybe, not required.
They are going green, but not green enough.
Yea I agree with you Thomas. What happens is they do a little project, like plant a hundred trees or so, then they heavily commercialize it to make them look good. They need to be required to do a lot more.
Required No. Encouraged and/or given incentives to do so. Yes.
Required no. Encouraged yes. Given incentives no.
everyone should Go Green so that we can help the environment.~”`
going green is always the best thing to do. it helps the environment a lot.’.`
everything should be green these days, let us help mother earth:’.