Almost every day, I go through the same routine. I’ll get up, go to school, then work, and back home. And I’m sure most people wouldn’t go any deeper into thinking about what makes your routine possible. In our day-to-day life, so much of our routine is tied back to the government and what the government does for us. Today, I tried thinking more about how my life is affected by the government, and here are some of the things I found:
My day starts off with my alarm which goes off at 6 o’clock in the morning and I know it is the correct time because the UTC (NIST) freely distributes the time kept measured and calibrated for complete accuracy. My alarm is also powered by electricity, provided by PG&E which is regulated by the FERC and CPUC. “The CPUC’s overall mission in the wholesale market is to promote reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy.” (“Federal and Regional Energy Policy,” 2019) Then, when I get up out of bed I can breathe clean air thanks to laws regulated by the government to ensure that the air pollution does not get worse.
Later, at 6:15 am I walk over to my bathroom, take a shower, then brush my teeth and use the toilet. Without thinking about it, all my waste needs to go somewhere and that fortunately is “regulated by the EPA to ensure that human and environmental health is protected when recycling and disposing of hazardous waste.” (“Learn The Basics of Hazardous Waste,” 2019) By 6:50 I am dressed, and I make sure to drink a glass of water with my vitamins before I go to class. I know the water that I drink is safe and free of bacteria and toxins because the “EPA enforces federal clean water and safe drinking water laws..” (“Regulatory Information by Topic: Water,” 2019)
A few minutes go by and I check my phone to see what the weather will be like for the day so I know if I’m dressed appropriately for the temperature outside. The weather, water, and climate forecast is provided by the National Weather Service (NOAA) an agency of the US federal government. (“About The NWS,” 2019)
I leave my home and get in my car to drive to school, I know that I can drive there feeling safer because the government mandates traffic laws, paves the street, and monitors the road for speed. Also, license examinations and car inspections are required of everyone to ensure they are up to date and currently pass as safe to be on the road. And I am also protected in case of an accident because everyone is required to be covered by car insurance of their vehicle.
Once I’m all settled in my car and drive off, I turn on the radio. All American broadcast radio and television is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which was created by Congress through the Communications Act so as to ensure no prejudice or segregation of broadcast media. I choose to listen to a Christian radio station which is made legal by the right given to me through the Bill of Rights to have the freedom of religion.
That morning I then arrive at my community college course. I have the right to an education and I am not discriminated against in my pursuit of that education. The Government has the responsibility to establish schools, develop curricula, and determine enrollment/graduation requirements at the state level.
Then at 8:25 I begin walking out of class and make it to my car. I drive over to Starbucks for my morning coffee before going to work. Then I drive a little further to the gas station to pump some gas into my car before starting work. I know that I’m getting what I pay for because it’s been checked by the Division of Weights and Measures which “promotes uniformity in US weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace.” (“Weights and Measures Division,” 2019)
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My shift at work starts at 9 in the morning so I clock in and make my way over to the registers. I work at a nursery so I sell plants and products that have been inspected by the USDA to prove they are organic and must provide a warning if they experienced exposure to chemicals from the passing of Prop 65. At my workplace, I have rights as an employee such as the right to minimum wage, and in Cupertino, as of January 2019, it is $15.00 an hour. As a cashier, I interact very closely with the company's profit, which I know will be protected in a bank account by the Federal Deposit Insurance Agency.
Then I get to take my lunch and eat food that has been inspected and approved for sale by the EPA. Once I have finished my meal I throw away my garbage, making sure to separate my trash between compost, recycling, and trash because I work in a California Green Business which is an organization funded by the EPA.
After returning from my break, I check my email and see if my college transfer applications were received by the state school of my choice and check to see the deadline for FAFSA applications. I need financial aid to be able to attend a University and that has been provided to me via the federal government through the Department of Education.
Hours later my shift is over and I clock off. I leave and grab my paycheck before I go, my income is taxed by the federal government so that a percentage automatically goes to the IRS.
I know that the food at my house isn’t very healthy so I drive to Whole Foods to grab dinner and I make sure to check the nutritional facts and see that it is organic before I buy it. “The US Food and Drug Association announced the requirements of more scientific information including the link to chronic diseases to better inform consumers.” (“Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label,” 2019) Once I get home I grab the mail from the mailbox, which has safely been transported to me by government employees of the US Postal Service.
After reading my mail I notice my dog getting agitated and I take him for a much-needed walk around the park by my house. I notice how clean the grass is and how there is no dog poop laying around by my neighbor's dogs thanks to the laws put in place stating that all pet owners pick up their dog’s fecal matter or waste laid on public and private property. It’s nice to know that even the smallest things are regulated to ensure safety and high health standards for my community.
That night I return home and need some downtime so I read a chapter of my book and once I’m done with that I then watch an episode of my favorite show on Netflix. As an artist/creator myself I find comfort in knowing that copyright laws are put into place “to protect original works of authorship.” (“What Does Copyright Protect?” 2019) After I’ve finished contemplating that thought I get under the covers of my bed and fall asleep in my home which is heated by PG&E.
It’s important to know just how much the government affects our daily lives because if it didn’t the world would be a lot different. We have so many privileges in a democratic society and it shows how important it is for our voices to be heard and our roles to be recognized. We all need to work together otherwise we won’t have a firm foundation to stand on.
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