Assignment

Governments around the world regulate acceptable behaviors through rules developed for the best interest of the common good. These regulations range from taxes to military activities to environmental health. This week's Discussion requires you to consider the ideals of personal freedoms versus governmental regulation and assurance. You evaluate the benefits and demerits of both governmental regulation and privatization with regard to environmental health.

Review the PowerPoint presentations in your Learning Resources. Review the required websites expanding your knowledge of air, food, water, and human health issues. Focus on the regulations regarding food-handling, indoor air quality, water privatization, and the responsibilities of the involved parties. Also, if you choose, review the optional resources, which have been chosen to highlight exciting public health topics.

Post a comprehensive response to one of the following questions. Discuss the potential human health effects associated with the topic/question you selected. Then explain your position and justify your viewpoint with support from the course text and at least two reputable organizations' websites. Identify the topic in the first line of your posting (for example, Air).

Questions:

1. Water: Should private companies be allowed to pump water from water sources in order to produce bottled water that is sold for profit?

1. If so, what would you require of them regarding the source water? Would you limit their profits?

2. If not, how do you balance your decision with the rights of companies to participate in capitalism?

2. Air: Does the government have the right to tell people they cannot smoke tobacco products in public? Explain your answer.

3. Food: A restaurant recently underwent a governmental food inspection and was found to have multiple food-handling issues that may cause illness. The government inspectors required that the issues be cleared within three months, or the restaurant would be closed. During those three months, 98 people became ill with Clostridium perfringens. The victims believe the government shares in the responsibility for their illness and have named the governmental inspectors in a lawsuit. Do you agree with the victims? To what extent are the inspectors, the government, the owners, and the victims responsible for the victims' illness?