Public Admin
Week 6 Assignment
Darren Douglas
Ashford University
PPA 601
Instructor Raby
Apr 29, 2013
Introduction
To many onlookers from foreign countries, the U.S. is land of the free and looks like a place full of prosperity and opportunity. While this may ring true in comparison to those lands, the U.S. is not without problems. When you attune yourself to the issues, the realization materializes that the U.S. has many issues that may make the seemingly attractive destination not look as attractive. Just looking at the news this year, we have seen panic over the fiscal cliff, gun control, education, health care and many other problems. The government has a responsibility to repair and maintain any potential issues the country may face. This is handled almost primarily through public policy. In the text, public policy is defined as "any decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by the government." (Cropf 9) There may be other interpretations of what a public policy is, but primarily it will be judged on the positive or negative impact it has on the constituents. There are many public policies that affect the public and need to be addressed such as child support, disability, immigration, homelessness, social security, unemployment and poverty to name a few. In the forthcoming essay, I will discuss and analyze the scope of the child support policy and its affect in the U.S. I will address the following questions: Who are the stakeholders and affected constituencies? Is this child support policy issue one that is faced by the federal and state governments? What political institutions are relevant to the policy discussion about this issue? How much does the public policy issue cost Americans? How much would it cost to address the issue? If the costs are unknown, why are they unknown? I will also prepare three proposed policies that address the issue of child support. I will also recommend a
Darren Douglas
Ashford University
PPA 601
Instructor Raby
Apr 29, 2013
Introduction
To many onlookers from foreign countries, the U.S. is land of the free and looks like a place full of prosperity and opportunity. While this may ring true in comparison to those lands, the U.S. is not without problems. When you attune yourself to the issues, the realization materializes that the U.S. has many issues that may make the seemingly attractive destination not look as attractive. Just looking at the news this year, we have seen panic over the fiscal cliff, gun control, education, health care and many other problems. The government has a responsibility to repair and maintain any potential issues the country may face. This is handled almost primarily through public policy. In the text, public policy is defined as "any decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by the government." (Cropf 9) There may be other interpretations of what a public policy is, but primarily it will be judged on the positive or negative impact it has on the constituents. There are many public policies that affect the public and need to be addressed such as child support, disability, immigration, homelessness, social security, unemployment and poverty to name a few. In the forthcoming essay, I will discuss and analyze the scope of the child support policy and its affect in the U.S. I will address the following questions: Who are the stakeholders and affected constituencies? Is this child support policy issue one that is faced by the federal and state governments? What political institutions are relevant to the policy discussion about this issue? How much does the public policy issue cost Americans? How much would it cost to address the issue? If the costs are unknown, why are they unknown? I will also prepare three proposed policies that address the issue of child support. I will also recommend a
References: Cropf, Robert (2008) American Public Administration: Public Service for the 21st Century. Pearson Learning Solutions. “Almanac of Policy Issues” http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/child_support.shtml Wish, Laura (2008) “Child Support Guidelines” http://corporate.findlaw.com/law-library/child-support-guidelines.html Stakeholder definition http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/stakeholder.html McCulley, Melanie G. (1998). The male abortion: the putative father 's right to terminate his interests in and obligations to the unborn child. The Journal of Law and Policy, Vol. VII, No. 1.