Pulbic Policy Wednesday Class.docx

You cannot guarantee the success of policies, even when you have the perfect condition. Kamarck is not trying to create a theory but is trying to Simplify a much more complicated How do each of these sectors matter? The Problem The solution The inside players The outside players Strategies Tac...

You cannot guarantee the success of policies, even when you have the perfect condition. Kamarck is not trying to create a theory but is trying to Simplify a much more complicated How do each of these sectors matter? The Problem The solution The inside players The outside players Strategies Tactics Scope of conflict Elections What is a problem and why do problems matter Concern that faces one or more groups or something one wants to know more about Identify and shape solutions to the problem Is policy new or persistent? May include brand new or persistent issues Persistent problems require solutions to be implemented throughout a very long time May include public or private problems Ex: Should the government become responsible for individuals’ debt Who might be paying attention to it? Identify and shape solutions There will always be tradeoffs Level of complexity If there is even one aspect of the policy that does not work, it may be rejected Values it reflects What views does it reflect Level of uncertainty of unintended consequences People will automatically assume that there will be a lot of unintended consequences Strange bedfellows Inside Players Parties are subject to factions Minority factions can also be very significant A small group of senators or congressmen may be the difference between a bill passing or failing Outside Players These are interest groups, votors, anyone who cares about public policy Public opinion Real attitudes Non-attitudes Attitudes they have no basis for or a very weak belief of Grassroots vs Astroturf Not every group will be able to speak as loudly as others. Interest group politics are an issue, therefore, and there is no good solution Public Tyring to figure out what the public believes or cares about is difficult Opinion polling If you include don’t know or force people to skip if they don’t know, you will see that many people don’t know or don’t have a preference If you don’t know what is an opinion or a non-attitude, you can fool yourself into believing that the public actually cares Problem is going to be specific to something