A Participating Public?

[James Marple <jesl@carolina.net>]

Keith

  Per your questions: Yes, the EPA and every public agency should make every reasonable effort to "integrate public participation" into its management systems", not just for the life cycle of the policy but before and after the policy is developed and put in place.  

It will be argued this is too much of a load for public servants to handle in addition to 'appointed duties' but in my view maximizing opportunities for public input is among those duties.  If politicians are reluctant to provide adequate funding for this then how can concerned citizens aid EPA management in persuading our representatives that their duties include keeping doors open to information and input? FOIA doesn't cut it when it comes to public participation in planning, as the flow of information must be unimpeded if the general public is to be brought into the process enough to provide meaningful comment. Ordinary folks shouldn't have to duplicate the research of public servants, should have convenient access to all relevant data.  
 
Since special interests expend considerable effort to influence policy with polished presentations and outright deception-coercion-bribery, can there be any good reason to not invite a maximum of public opinion as a balance to this input?  Of course there will be a massive body of comment to sort through, but is it unreasonable to assume that a considerable number of our 300 million citizens possess talents and energies that will be put to good use by public servants, and that we would be wise to each pay another dollar to bring this free talent to bear on protecting our health and welfare?  

My experience has shown that public agencies are influenced to an astounding degree by agents of profiteers who use every tool of the wordsmith's trade to misguide public servants and politicians, including misinformation supported by false testimony from 'hired gun' experts and lobbiests. Too often have I seen the best solutions to problems and the best programs totally ignored because of this. Too often have I witnessed the exploitation of a bureaucrat's ambition by profiteer agents seeking to make this person misinform honest politicians. 

The EPA will be better able to avoid misguidance if it invites public opinion and information to be applied toward every policy and programmatic decision.  There is no armor as resistant to special interest weapons as the truth about planning options.