What, in your opinion, are some of the most notable governmental policies that have fostered the idea of equality in the United States. Explain.
Policies are plans of actions that are suggested and agreed upon in order to address and resolve different problems and issues. In the US, the government has put a lot of effort in its fight for equality for all its citizens. In my opinion, some of the most notable policies that foster equality are as follows. The government has come up with policies to women against any form of discrimination.
These policies have achieved this by putting in place laws that ensure that the women get equal opportunities in terms of salaries, job opportunities, and the right to own and inherit property. Not only has this resulted in women earning more, but it has also led to female empowerment, thus enabling women to play a more pivotal role in society. Another recognizable effort employed to curb inequality is the affirmative action plan, which guards against discrimination on bases of color, race, sex, and age, and disabilities.
The policies provide guidelines that should be used to enforce equality in school, work, and other social settings despite the differences that the people have. In addition to this, the government has put in place policies in the health care systems in the US. If implemented, these policies will ensure that every citizen receives the best in health care despite their financial and social disparities. The government is working on a plan to introduce Medicare for all its citizens. This move will further aid in the quest to end discrimination in hospitals, which often arise due to high medical costs, lack of insurance covers, and inadequate facilities in most hospitals.
Analyze the following scenario: Officer Steven Connerly has been accused by several Taylor County Jail inmates of using excessive force in restraint of prisoners while escorting them to and from the courthouse. The warden of the jail sent Officer Connerly to a class to learn about the use of new security devices and restraint techniques. Six months later, complaints were still coming in.
From this scenario, it is clear that there the law enforcer, Mr. Connerly, does not respect the rights of the inmates. This is evident from the excessive force he allegedly uses while handling them. The correctional system functions in an efficient manner, as can be alluded by the actions taken by the jail warden on the reception of the report of Mr. Connerly’s actions. The response taken by the warden indicates that his office respects and response to complaints forwarded.
This is the model behavior that should be emulated by all public offices. However, the reformation class taken by Officer Connerly fails to have an impact on his work, and he allegedly continues to handle the inmates in an unsuitable manner. One can, therefore, conclude that the flaw is not in the system since Mr. Connerly has been equipped with the relevant education on restraint techniques to make him better at his job.
However, these classes seem to have failed to have any impact on the Security Officer. The problem, therefore, is evidently on Mr. Connerly as an individual. In order to solve this problem, the Officer should be suspended and made to enlist the help of a psychologist so as to help get to the root of the issue, which is evidently personal to Officer Connerly.
What is an “entitlement program?” Provide an example of an entitlement program and analyze it from the standpoints of purpose, recipient needs, potential benefits, and disadvantages
An entitlement program constitutes a government program that guarantees certain benefits and payments to individuals or even organizations that meet specific requirements. The person who possesses these qualifications is therefore eligible for benefits such as social security, Medicaid and Medicare, farm support, and employment benefits, among others. A good example of an entitlement program is the social security program, which is financed and managed by the federal government.
The main purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to those individuals that are retired, working with disabilities, and the immediate families of deceased workers. This being a states initiative, it is funded by a payroll tax levied and split between the employers, employees at a rate of 6.3%, and even other self employed businessmen who pay the whole amount of 12.6%. It is a very beneficial program as it helps those who cannot fully fend for themselves due to work related problems meet their day to day needs. However this program has some limitations and disadvantages.
One of the most significant limitation is that the money given is fixed and fails to take into consideration the number of people who might be reliant on the aid say in a family setting. In addition to this, the scheme does not cover everyone who might otherwise need it for example those who are unemployed are exempted from the benefits. There is a also a tax levy imposed on the money received from this benefit which further reduces the total amount received.
Explain the purpose and intent of evaluation research, particularly as it applies to public administration. What are its benefits and potential “shortfalls”?
Evaluation research refers to the tactics used to provide logical assessments and information as to whether the proposed and implemented working strategies, programs and measures deliver the expected results efficiently. In public administration, it is used to analyze whether the available resources are fully utilized, the set goals and objectives are achievable and realistic, the quality of service extended to the public is acceptable and whether the allocation, distribution and management of financial resources is equitable and fair.
Evaluation research is beneficial because the information gathered can be used to improve the quality of service rendered, the allocation of resources and it also helps the public know how the funds are used. In addition to this, it also assists in restructuring and improving policies used so as they can achieve full potential. On the same note, it can be used to monitor and evaluate the performance of employees and further assist in formulating guidelines on performance appraisal.
On the other hand, evaluation research has some known shortfalls. For example, it is sometimes difficult to determining which research method is most effective in certain situations, motivating the workers to actually implement the proposed changes, increase resources to fully cater for the suggested improvements and finally find logical solutions that affect unpredictable parameters like the economy, political stability and the effects of climatic changes to productivity.
What is the purpose and intent of “Sunshine Laws.” What are their major advantages and disadvantages?
These are laws set by the government that gives the public rights to access information, records and attend meetings pertaining to their regulatory bodies. The laws allows the public to have unlimited access to records such as letters, maps, photographs, tapes and other form of documentation used by a public office or agencies during a particular operation. They also allow the public to attend such meetings as planning commissions, city council meetings, school and library board meetings among others.
These laws are put in place to facilitate openness between the government and the public and also to ensure that the public understands and have full knowledge of how the government works. They are beneficial to both the government and the public because they give the public a chance to participate in the decision making process of policies that affect them and also help them analyze the performance of the government. This information also acts as guidelines through which the public can monitor the progress of the proposed goals and objectives.
However there are disadvantages associated with these laws. There exists no way of ascertain the authenticity of the information on the records; as such, one cannot tell if the information is entirely true or falsified. To some people, these laws constitute an intrusion to their privacy. Access to such information may in some instances result in civil unrest especially if it relates with the people’s freedom and rights.