I really appreciated both chapters of the Mazmanian and Kraft reading this week. My problems from the earlier reading we had from this book was that the third epoch solution seemed too idealistic and not practical. However both of these chapters demonstrated practical applications of the thinking of the third epoch. That being said, the articles did highlight the difficulty in transitioning to this new epoch, a process which is still underway.

One of the strengths of this new approach, as highlighted in these chapters, is the localization of solutions to problems. The first epochs attempts at national regulation is really too difficult to employ and not as effective as action taken by more localized groups. However, the case studies presented in these readings are both very liberal places. I worry that if we depend on local solutions to problems, progressive states such as California and Wisconsin will take action while less progressive and less environmentally friendly states will lag behind in their policy changes.

Another qualm with the third epoch is one mentioned by Mazmanian and Kraft in chapter 5. They write, “Collaboration may work best in the early stages of the policy process-in the identification of problems, the consideration of alternative policy approaches, and the selection of tools to be used. Such cooperative approaches may be less suitable, however, for implementation of the chosen policies-when specific action steps must be taken” (124). As this quote explains, collaboration is certainly useful, but when push comes to shove may end up becoming more detrimental then helpful.

Despite these concerns, I think Mazmanian and Kraft did a good job of showing what the third epoch will actually look like. These readings actually relate very well to a question I did not get to ask Jen Brock on Thursday. It seemed that her job was to encourage and influence environmental change based on regulation and laws. My question for her would have been if she believed that was the best way to actually create change, given the difficulty of passing effective regulation and the “too little too late” warning many scientists have already declared. I think the Mazmanian and Kraft reading shows that legislation from Congress may no longer be the most effective way to deal with these problems.