The Role of Government in Policy †Making Essay Example for Free

The Role of Government in Policy – Making Essay The public policy making process often takes place in a policy environment that is broad and comprises of both official and non-official players. Civil society groups that are organized comprise the membership of non-official players. Such groups include women’s lobbies, business associations, labor unions and church organizations.   On the other hand, positions of the formal state are often occupied by the official players.   These positions derive their guidance and means of exercising their authority from the constitution that exist in the country. In addition; it is the political community that describes the formal state positions. A steady transformation which most of the time has been unnoticed has been taking place in the American government and debates have marginalized the previous institutions and processes and public policy has recently been centralized on the new processes especially the non-governmental ones.   By performing the desired work for the people, responsibility has mostly been shared by the American government as well as non-profit organizations, various levels of government and the private companies (Kettl, 2000). The process of policy making often starts with unexpected occurrences and mechanisms that are triggering and this leads to disturbance of the daily routines that take place in the environment.   This process is the responsibility of policy makers who occupy the pivotal positions as concerns power.   These people (policy makers) are often under pressure as they are faced with a variety of competing interests in their quest to come up with informed decisions concerning policies so as to improve the existing conditions and their tasks may become difficult especially in societies where there exist open public expression of opinions and conflicts, for instance the United States (Kettl, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shaping of public policy takes place under various institutions and levels of government such as the judiciary, legislature, bureaucracy, President among others.   The legislative plays various roles and tasks in shaping public policy.   Ã‚  The legislature plays the task of formulating policy proposals so that various existing problems can be solved.   Policy formulation consists of factual, the theoretical and value premises.   In an organizational setting, policy formulation lies with the administration of such organizations that are charged with the responsibility of coming up with rational, goal-oriented and responsible policies that could be useful in solving various organizational problems. As a result, these policies when applied by organization result in efficiency in these institutions.   In addition, organizations can then be said to posses drives, values and skills in decision making processes, problem formulation, evaluation and agenda setting.   The legislature’s other role is making of the laws that affect the entire nation positively and at the same time ensure that the interests of their constituencies are met through their representation with the objective of improving the existing quality of life for citizens (Long, 1996). The judiciary on the other hand has actively been active in the process of policy making in United States.   The administration of education, penal, environmental protection, welfare and mental health policies has mainly taken place as a result of the participation of the courts in their formulation.   Courts also play the role of perceiving crimes that have been committed and judges have the responsibility of monitoring the various activities that are conducted by institutions.   In certain circumstances, courts have also attempted to carry out restructuring process in these institutions so that change in their policies as well as processes is implemented (Kettl, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Salvation Army is a religious based organization, registered in the United States of America, with different goals and objectives.   Although the principle objective of the organization is to spread Christianity, the organizational policies and governance is firmly embedded in the US constitution.   Therefore, the organization is obliged to obey all statutes under the US constitution (Ellickson, 1996).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For instance, the Salvation Army is required to operate under the associations act whereby elections for some posts in the organization, are supposed to be conducted as provided for in the law.   In addition, the organization operates with a fiscal budget which is subject to auditing as provided for in the law.   Therefore, the Salvation Army strives to meet all government legislations making it a law abiding organization.   By doing that, the Salvation Army upholds basic tenets which ensure that every citizen enjoys their fundamental rights as provided for in the constitution (Ellickson, 1996).   Additionally,   the organization participates in promoting good governance, especially through its corporate social responsibility arm which extends assistance not only to Americans who are needy but also the organization has been in the fore front in promoting bilateral relations through bilateral aid to developing countries. In conclusion, it is evident from the discussion above that the legal process and especially the judiciary in United States of America, plays a significant role in governance.   For an organization like the Salvation Army, the legal process offers the necessary benchmark against which such an organization lays its policies.   Finally,   for law and order to be realized every organization, irrespective of its ideological leaning must uphold the constitution. Reference    Ellickson, R. C. (1996). Controlling Chronic Misconduct in City Spaces: Of Panhandlers, Skid Rows, and Public-Space Zoning. Yale Law Journal, 105(5), 1165-1248. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5000328549 Kettl, D. F. (2000). The Transformation of Governance: Globalization, Devolution, and the Role of Government. Public Administration Review, 60(6), 488. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5001131131 Long, N. E. (1996). Public Policy and Administration: The Goals of Rationality and Responsibility. Public Administration Review, 56(2), 149-4. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5000345114

Super-duper Teddy :: essays research papers

Wendy Abram February 9, 2000 Book Report (about a boy character) Title: Super-Duper Teddy Author: Johanna Hurwitz Setting: The story takes place in Teddy’s neighborhood, Teddy’s apartment, and in Anita’s house. Main Character: The main character is Teddy. Supporting Characters: There are many supporting characters. They are Teddy’s mom; his sister, Nora; his neighbor, Anita; his friend, Bryan; his turtle, Mr. Hush; and Anita’s cat, Cassandra. Favorite Character: My favorite character is Teddy because he always has his Super-Duper Cape. He is usually shy except when he is wearing his cape. Summary: Teddy is a shy five year old boy who lives in an apartment. His sister, Nora is never shy. Teddy gets invited to Bryan’s birthday party but Teddy doesn’t want to go. His mom forces him to go and he ends up being the only other guest. After that, his mom goes to a wedding. His grandma and grandpa visit for two nights. Teddy and Nora didn’t like the breakfast their grandparents made and they were bored. When his mom came back, Teddy had to baby sit his neighbor Anita’s cat, Cassandra. He would get paid money. Cassandra makes a big mess but Teddy washes the mess up with his cape. One day Teddy was very anxious to get a pet. When he and his mom were driving, Teddy saw a pet shop and they went in. Teddy spotted the perfect pet and they bought him. The pet was a turtle and Teddy named him Mr. Hush because he was so quiet. The next day, his substitute teacher said they were going to take a long walk because it was a beautiful day. When they were halfway done, Jerry the fruit store keeper was blocking their way. Teddy saw fruit that looked like tiny oranges. Jerry said they were called kumquats. Teddy’s apartment was right across the street from Jerry’s store, so they went into his apartment. When they went into the elevator, it got stuck. There was a red button that Teddy always wanted to push, and he finally got to push it. When they all got to Teddy’s room, they ate cookies and milk. The next day at school, Teddy was so happy that he put his cape in the dress-up box.

Should Student Loan Debt Be Forgiven?

Most Americans would agree that higher education is important. Compared to years ago, when a high school education was acceptable in most jobs, a college degree is now required in the majority of positions. But what if you can’t afford to get a degree? What then?For many, student loans are the only way to finance one’s education. Paying out of pocket simply isn’t a reality for most, so they rely on state and national government to provide them the funds to attend school, buy textbooks, and even pay for room and board. Sign on the dotted line, and suddenly a subsidized or unsubsidized loan shows up as a credit on your student account.Any overage is paid to you by check to cover incidentals. This process gets repeated every semester, for as long as you attend school. It all seems very easy and acceptable – until you graduate (or don’t graduate, whichever the case may be).The day you leave school, a six-month clock starts ticking toward your first paym ent. Oh wait, you mean school costs money? Sadly, some aren’t able to secure a position right away that can allow them the economic capability to start making payment on their loans. It can take up to two years for some college graduates to find a job.In the meantime, those loans are still due and payable. There are all sorts of possibilities for repayment: income-sensitive plans, unemployment deferments, graduated payments, and even forgiveness programs for certain occupations like nurses, teachers, and public servants.But what about the rest of the debt holders? What happens to them if they can’t make their payments? Student loan debt today approaches $1 trillion dollars, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Even more frightening, the Wall Street Journal reports about 40% of student loan holders are in default or have delayed their payments.Student loan debt has now actually surpassed total credit card debt in the US. There are numerous calls to act ion for possible solutions to this problem. The main issue I have with them is they don’t actually take into effect HOW we got into this position, or how to avoid it from happening again in the future. As part of his re-election bid, President Obama introduced his solution, referred to as the 10-10 plan. This plan allows graduates to only pay 10% of their total income as loan payments, and forgive whatever is left after 10 years.This plan requires a borrower to have a financial hardship, and the payment amount, based on 10% of income, is readjusted yearly. In many cases, this forgiveness will amount to somewhere around 80% of the original loan amount. That seems an awfully steep penalty for the US to pay, simply because they think they can.These borrowers are now, hopefully, out in the work world making a reasonable income so they are actually likely to be able to make payments. Forgiveness at that point is not really necessary. In an income-sensitive repayment plan, the rate of the payment goes up, based on the income of a borrower increasing as well.Rather than forgiving the remainder owed, cutting interest rates or lowering the payment amount seem like better solutions in that they provide assistance to struggling borrowers, but ultimately the debt is repaid.There are others calling for an all-out bailout, similar to the AIG or GE bailout, designed to boost the economy. The hope is those with forgiven loans will put that money back into the economy, at least in the short term. But who’s to say that’s where they’ll put their money? What happens to the next round of graduates? They’ll be graduating with a forgone conclusion that their loans will be forgiven as well.And why not? That’s what a plan like this would lead them to believe. Mitchell Weiss, adjunct professor at the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business in Connecticut, believes any kind of credit is ultimately issued on a sort of trust. â€Å"If I loan you some money, I trust that you're going to pay it back to me,† he says. â€Å"Wholesale forgiveness, amnesty – whatever you want to call it – will fundamentally undermine a process that is thoroughly integrated within our society. † Moreover, it doesn't really solve the problem, says Professor Weiss.A Facebook page started by an angry law school graduate without means to repay his loans has sparked a petition to support a one-time, across the board loan forgiveness. Started by Robert Applebaum, the group calls for an economic boost by forgiving all outstanding government loans.In the petition, Applebaum says, â€Å"Forgiving the student loan debt of all Americans will have an immediate stimulative effect on our economy†. â€Å"With the stroke of the president's pen, millions of Americans would suddenly have hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of extra dollars in their pockets each and every month to spend on ailing sectors of the economy .†Basically, the already strained government would be taking the hit for billions of dollars, based on the hope that this money would find its way back to our local and national economy. The main problem I see is you cannot guarantee this is what will happen. It sets the whole Federal Loan system up for collapse. HR1330 is another bill recently introduced, which could provide some much-needed relief for borrowers. Instead of a bailout, this kind of plan would allow interest-free deferments to borrowers who become unemployed or who are enrolled in the current 10-10 plan.Important to note is that it does limit the forgiveness afforded to new borrowers. But here again, it’s a very short term solution to a very long term issue. People on both sides, and somewhere in the middle, generally have strong opinions about the long-term benefits or non-benefits of a plan like this. CNBC reports the problem with a plan like this is three-fold: â€Å"The losses must be borne by someo ne, likely the taxpayer†. Basically, the money to bail out college graduates from repaying their loans has to come from somewhere. It can also be called a â€Å"moral hazard†, in that it rewards or implicitly encourages imprudent behavior.Also, a one-time bailout of the current loan-holders could strongly encourage future graduates to rely on the possibility of another bailout in the future. As a returning college student with a mountain of student loan debt of my own, I see the problem from the borrower’s perspective. As a Business Management student, though, I also see it through â€Å"Economic Eyes†. At the risk of sounding old and maternal, I think forgiveness only allows the problem to keep repeating for my generation, my children’s generation, and those to come.In the same mentality that I would never buy my child a car outright, for fear they’d have no ownership in it or respect for it, I simply don’t believe that bailing out bo rrowers is a good solution either.I fear we teach our children that so long as there are mountains of others in the same predicament, there is government relief available. The price is ultimately paid in the form of even more national debt. Yes, an economic boost might be favorable in the short term, but the long term effects of that boost will be felt for years afterwards.

So Rich, So Poor by Peter Edelman Essay - 1000 Words

While it has proven to be difficult to end poverty in America, Peter Edelman is optimistic. In his book So Rich, So Poor Edelman makes a call to action. There are four prominent ideas that underpin Edelman’s reasoning throughout the book: (1) More people must understand why poverty is still so prevalent in America; (2) extreme poverty must be taken into consideration as a shocking 6 million Americans’ sole income was food stamps in 2011. This fact alone creates a sense of urgency that drives Edelman; (3) increasing income inequality should be treated as a moral issue; and (4) bold political action will be required if substantive progress will be made in alleviating poverty. Unfortunately, despite President Roosevelt’s New Deal and†¦show more content†¦While it is not until his final chapter â€Å"Young People: Improving the Odds† that we read Edelman’s thoughts on American education at length, I argue that the theme of education is one that motivates Edelman’s writing. In order to best understand how the failure of American public education factors into Edelman’s discussion on poverty, we must first pull the curtain away from the his principle focus on the economy. Edelman suggests that the decline of union power, a weak minimum wage, and an increase in the number of people entering the labor market have had a comprehensive deleterious effect on those who are most economically disadvantaged (50-54). To add to Edelman’s understanding, we must consider the underlying negative effects of the structural failure of public schools and how it compounds issues that influence poverty. We can see, for example, how the public education system fails to match student skills with employer needs, which leads to unemployment and limited job mobility. In his argument, Edelman recognizes that a number of employers â€Å"cannot find qualified workers† (57). Rather than focusing on the economy as the principle point of failure, if we dig deeper in to Edelman’s argument, we find that our current system of education fails to provide students with skills sets that match those employers areShow MoreRelatedSo Rich By Peter Edelman1293 Words   |  6 PagesPeter Edelman wrote his most recent novel, So Rich, So Poor in 2012 and it was published in the same year by The New Press. Edelman is a lawyer and policy maker whom specializes in the fields of welfare, poverty, juvenile justice and constitutional law. He received both his bachelors and law degree from Harvard College. After graduation, Edelman served as a law clerk to Judge Henry Friendly on the U.S. Court of Appeals and then as a law clerk for Justice Arthur J. Goldberg on the United States SupremeRead MoreDancing in The Dark by Morris Dickstein1061 Words   |  5 Pagesmoney on bills, so you have no money left for food to feed your family. We consider poverty to be just being poor. One-Third of our population makes less than $38,000. This is not enough to be able to be above the poverty line. Anything below this â€Å"line† is considered being poverty. How do they decide this line? They take the cost of a very basic diet, and they multiply it by three, for a family of three. That being said, One-half of the jobs in America pay below $38,000 a year, so no wonder we areRead Morepoverty in america2346 Words   |  10 PagesAmerica now has, by many standards, the lowest social mobility of all of the high-end countries, meaning that a child born into poverty is likely to grow up as a poor adult. This is surprising for a country that not only prides itself as being a middle class society, but as the society where anyone can make it and where social mobility is so high. In some places now, it is hard to believe that America is an economic giant. â€Å"One in four young children lives in poverty in the richest nation on earth.†Read MorePoverty And Its Effects On Poverty1826 Words   |  8 Pagesthe face. The poor are not only deprived of things like food, water, housing, and education that make up the typical guidelines of life, but they are deprived of luxuries. As we see the world around us evolve in it’s ways of architecture, transportation, and fashion, we also see that the poor are not welcome to this change. They are so busy longing for the necessities of life, that they don t get to take pleasure in the advances of the world. Some areas affected by poverty have been so deprived ofRead MoreBrand Strategy and Imc11643 Words   |  47 Pagesuntil a certain nicotine dependence has been developed, is somewhat less important than other things. Indeed [sic] strength of taste has not been a factor in the current creative strategy for Player s Filter. The brand has been positioned so that people can apply their own taste qualities to it. (1977, p. 12) According to an ITL document entitled 1971 Matinee Marketing Plans, without price differentials and without easily perceptible product differentiation (except for extremes