Dear Editor:Prior to 1965, formal regulatory agencies had not been created.

During this pre-regulatory era, the federal government and states were in a state of cooperative federalism.

To a large extent, state legislatures, executive and judiciary systems controlled constituencies (local governments) within their respective boundaries with little federal government intrusion.

The year 1965 was a turning point when Congress decided that water quality throughout the U.S. must meet the minimum national standards.

There was no resistance when the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts were enacted.

As the power of the federal government grew and became more and more intrusive in state and local government affairs, other mandates were enacted.

Corporations that had initially rejected regulations as being bad for commerce began to support regulatory agencies and the mandated enforcement of acts passed by Congress.

The advantage was complete monopoly of the market. This achievement of corporation monopoly is seen in enterprises such as energy and transportation.

Corporations had the financial ability to see that mandated government regulations were performed.

The involvement of corporations in regulation eventually led to regulatory capture.

Between the 1980s and the 1990s there was a rapid adoption of federal regulations.

Some regulations were not successfully adopted such as the Prohibition Act of the 1920s.

Some have argued that regulations are inefficient, inflexible, inconsistent and expensive to implement.

Is regulation a threat to freedom?

On an individual level, some would say regulations are an impediment to new small business owners to be creative and spontaneous, to generate revenue and create jobs.

No doubt a balance between regulatory action and individual freedom is needed, but the appropriate approach to achieve this balance is still undecided.

If regulation is needed, who decides what should be regulated and to what extent?

When does regulation become restrictive to the extent of violating individual right to freedom?

There are no simple answers to these complex issues, at best a glimmer of some recognition of these issues at play should trump up the next round of elections for regulatory agencies, elected officials and citizens.

-Uchenna Egenti

Author