Taking a Look a the Policymaking Process

Deborah Stone begins her book, Policy Paradox, by stating, “a theory of policy politics must start with a simple model of political society, just as economics starts with a simple model of economic society.” Deborah Stone examines two policy-making models to describe the paradox’s of the process model for public policy. The two models include: the market (rational model) and the Polis (community) model. Stone states she contrasts these two models to “illuminate some ways the market model distorts political life.” As discussed in class, the market model follows five steps:

Deborah Stone compares the market and polis models of policy making with the intent to show that the original origin of the public policy discipline was to be grounded in a practical science, economics, but to also show how and why the economic approach to policy making has significant limitations. Stone is arguing against the view that policy decision making is rational decision making. Deborah Stone’s main reason for comparing the two models of policy making is to identify and critique the simplistic assumptions that have been used in the market and rationality project. Stone is attempting to point out the paradox that exists between the two because the two models are evidently contradictory, the market being ground in rationality and the polis being based on emotion. Stone compares the two policies in order to show that economics cannot be solely used to understand policy making because the two are fundamentally different. She also points out that policy is made in a political society and because of this the polis model seeks to explain public policy as it actually happens in reality since the field and study of public policy was created to allow government to make decisions that would best benefit their citizens.

This is when the public has the chance to get involved in the policy making process.

McCelland's afore mention quote recognises that actors involved in the policy making process, bring about a personal bias or belief in the role they perform. It may be likened to a microcosm of the world, as individuals or groups vie for power, working towards achieving their own interest and or the interest of society as a whole. Once these policies are implemented it requires the exercise of authority and systems to apply this authority. Take for example a community organiser who strongly believes in social justice for children living in poverty, they believe in policies that improve the well-being of children who share our society. These people may favour a system which corresponds to their ideology, that of a large welfare state and government.

The discussion in relation to policy and policy implementation is one that revolves around a major primary issue that is known as legislation. In other words, policies are basically pieces of legislation that are enforced and put into place through an effective process of implementation. At this juncture, it is critical to note that the process of law enforcement is one that also comes with its own costs that need to be met by the same government that fosters the implementation of the same. Certain enforcement processes would require the hiring of new workers in order to effectively meet the desired objectives of the legislation (Beadle, 2013). Besides, there are other enforcement processes that would require compensation of the state and local

There were many strategies mentioned in the first chapter of Van Wormer’s (2016) text that the power elites in our society use to manipulate working class people to vote with them on economic issues. One of the strategies that was mentioned in the text is, policy practice. This strategy is one associated with policy changes in large systems (2016). Certain groups of individuals have been more vulnerable to things like poverty, and social exclusion than other groups because they may not have had equal access to services or other things in their environment. Their locations also play a role in being more vulnerable, if there is no transportation or financial stability to provide transportation then different social groups of individuals may be

A policy is a set off rules or steps which are introduced to influence decisions in all aspects of life. It can be either in education, business or in any other form of an organisation; in other words it’s a definite course or method of action selected amongst alternatives, and in light of a given condition, to guide and determine present and future decisions.

Government policies are not simple problems that can be solved with a one-size-fits-all solution. They are bitterly contested in practically all forms of government around the world. Even in the United States, the Government suffers from lifelong politicians arguing incessantly with the opposing side. It must be said that if intelligent senators who have spent practically their entire adult life in the political arena are unable to come to a unified solution on hot-button issues, it is unlikely that one paper will change all of that; yet what I endeavor to do today is present a clear and accurate take on certain social issues, as well as the general necessity of a separation of powers in the three branches of government.

Making or studying public policy looks like an ocean when being compared with other social sciences because it contains a combination of regulations and laws (Stanford University). Making public policy is very important because the rules and regulations should work for people’s benefits, otherwise, the policies will be considered old or insufficient to fulfill their aims or duties, but, in my opinion, not all public policies are beneficial to people because public policies do not reflect people’s or individual’s ideas, and they are initiated with maybe a sense of humor or feelings of persons, who would like to make that public policy. We study this because it focuses on how to analyze and know the ingredients of it, if it is useful to people, if it is still valid to use, and if people have got the benefits from it.

Although many feel that direction action techniques provide the most immediate way of articulating their views and achieving tangible results, critics argue that the rise in single issue, direct action politics undermines our system of representative democracy. This is because such campaigns prevent governments from implementing their programmes and from pursuing policies that address the bigger picture.

policy in question. The current remedies to the Public Policy Process aren’t much, but a present

The concept of power is woven into every facet of society. It fuels governments, corporations, institutions, and even families. Power can be both embryonic in nature as well as overt in sociocultural contexts because it manifests itself in relationships (Fowler, 2012). Muth (1984) identified power as “ the ability of an actor to affect the behaviour of another actor” (Muth as cited in Fowler, 2013, p. 23). Therefore, the ability to exercise power rests on acquiring appropriate resources or political currency to successfully affect others. Taking into account an actor’s “political currency” includes pinpointing their assets, liabilities, and how they utilize or withhold their currency; this constitutes how policy actors wield their power (Malen,

The problems that can arise if a politician were to use subjective measures, instead of objective measures, in advocating new laws can result in several, problematic, dilemmas’. Such as, creating laws for their own self benefit, disregarding public opinion for personal enlightenment, unrecognition of present or potential situations, and discrimination against political equality.

The Legislative Stage is the part of the policy process when a policy is brought to the board of the company, congress or even the person that make the rules and regulation of a company or business. This is also the part of the policy process where the policy proposal will move through government, CEO, or managers, as well as any other decision makers that will become involved of many different levels. These people will ultimately be the ones to determine whether a policy is to be implemented in whole, or partially, or either nothing will become of it (Porter, R). The Legislative Stage is also the part of the policy that a person or part of people will ultimately decide whether or not the policy that is being proposed will be enforced. Throughout this period proposals will be drafted, presidential action will be taken or origins of the ideas will be made public knowledge. With the foundation of AID/HIV being such a big foundation, when policies are being made, it has many channels to go through with the legislative stage. Some policies can sit in the Legislative Stage for a long time, or some policies will live a short period of time in the

“It needs to be noted that the circulation of policy ideas often takes place against the backdrop of a range of international and regional settlements, both formal and informal. These settlements are expressed in terms of consensus and conventions, and involve agreements and commitments that expose national policy practices to external dictates and scrutiny” (p. 86).