Online discussion (for Hifsa)

Running head: MY PERSPECTIVE OF PUBLIC POLICY

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Running head: MY PERSPECTIVE OF PUBLIC POLICY

Introduction

Public policy is an action plan that consists of a series of actions and things to avoid over a period of time. The policies are made to allocate resources and resolve conflicts on interests and values. It is created by the government to make decisions, upkeep self-governing organization and stimulates an active commiserative residency. Pubic policy is a system of laws, rules and regulations in an environment with no beginning or ending point, and no boundaries (Gerston, 2010 pg5)

Public Policy and its Formulation

The inputs of public policy are supports and demands for support that the policy and government gets from the public (Rushefsky, 2002). For example, the Obama administration got support in the beginning of his election, but because of the financial crisis, his support was reduced during his last couple of years in office. Demands are the requests of actions by the political system that fits into the policy process. Outputs of the public policy are the results of the policy. Sometimes policies can be contradictory to each other for example, the government gives support on prices for tobacco products and at the same time, they create policies to prohibit the use of tobacco in certain location (Hird, 2004).

Public Policy Theories and Roles

The public policy plays a role to make balances between different interest groups. These interest groups have conflicting interests on the same aspects. There is a chance that strong interest groups will violate the rights and interests of the weak interest groups. It is the duty of the government to make a strong public policy that balances the interests of these groups and protect the rights and interests of the weak interest groups (Hird, 2004). The interest group theory of the public policy formulation suggests that the interest groups provide true interpretations in the interests of different groups which helps in making the right decisions to allocate the resources and resolve the conflict of interests (Dye, 1998).

The No Child Left behind is the type of public policy that has used this theory while making the policy. The policy was made to protect the interests of children from the interest groups who has the young child labor and from teachers and school ownership who wants to make money. The NCLB is a law created by the federal government and passed by Congress under President George W. Bush to ensure students achieved their learning while sitting in a safe classroom environment (Rushefsky, pg339).

The rational actor model is a theory that suggests improving or maximizing the public on the basis of individualist’s approach in which the individuals are making decisions based on how they can better themselves and have an impact on the welfare of the nation. This theory believes that the acts of the individuals are self-oriented, but in the end, the market mechanism will balance the acts of the the individuals and the make it the broader interest of the society (Hird, 2004).

Summary

There are multiple perspectives on policy issues and policy analysts need to look deeper into the policy issue so that all aspects and perspectives of the policy are taking into consideration before making any decision regarding those issues. The conversations and debates over policies are very important to understand from a perspective and make decisions that are in the best interest of the nation. This should be done rather than considering the aspects of different issues (Gerston, 2010). Although it is not easy to understand these perspectives at the same time but with routine discussions and arguments in the debate, this can be done very easily.

The public policy intends to create a balance in society and protect the rights and duties of different nationalities. The government uses techniques to understand conflicts between different groups in the U.S. which are called interest groups. They protect the rights of the weaker interest groups from the stronger groups.

References

Rushefsky, Mark E. PUBLIC POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES, 5TH EDITION, M.E, Sharpe, Armonk New York, 2013

Gerston, Larry N., PUBLIC POLICY MAKING, PROCESS AND PRINCIPLES, 3rd Edition, M.E, Sharpe, Armonk New York, 2010.

Thomas Dye, Understanding Public Policy, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1998 Chapters 1 & 2. The latter is referred to as the Models of Politics in the readings.