1. How does Miljan define "Public Policy"? Use at least one specific example in your municipality, province, or Canada to illustrate your understanding of her definition.
Miljan defines public policy as "conscious choice that leads to deliberate action -- the passage of a law, the spending of money, an official speech or gesture, or some other observable act -- or inaction" (p. 3). In other words, public policy is a sentient decision by policy makers to become involved in a certain matter, and the result is either clear deliberate action or no action at all.
One recent example took place in British Columbia. There had been great demand for housing there from wealthy foreign buyers, who were purchasing properties in BC as vacation homes …show more content…
When can inaction be regarded as public policy? Explain using your own examples.
According to Miljan (pp. 3-4), inaction cannot be regarded as public policy when it is simply the failure to act. This is because a problem must reach some level of public awareness and understanding before it can be brought to policy makers' attention. For example, the inaction of many governments regarding tobacco before the general public became aware of its health effects cannot be considered public policy, because there was no known problem at the time. However, inaction does become public policy if there is a problem that the public is concerned about and wants the government to act on and the government chooses to do little or nothing. Here there is a known problem that policy makers are consciously avoiding for reasons other than ignorance. A good example is Canadian inaction on climate change. Climate change is a problem that was exposed decades ago and that the general public understands rather well. Moreover it is even a problem that the Canadian government has repeatedly promised to address. Yet according to the Council of Canadians (n.d.), Canada has relaxed its emissions targets, abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, cut funding for renewable energy projects, and lobbied in favor of tar sands mining which is very environmentally …show more content…
What does Miljan mean by "the political agenda"?
Miljan defines "the political agenda" as how the language, gestures, and other communications of policy makers establish the issues that are important in public affairs. The political agenda also establishes policy makers' beliefs and attitudes about these issues, whether they are passive or active about them, and what they intend to do about them (p. 6).
4. Discuss the following the context of your understanding of the political agenda: "Political issues and policy problems are constructed out of the conflicting values and terminologies that different groups put forward when they compete for something that cannot be shared so as to satisfy them fully. These issues and problems do not exist apart from the words and symbols used to describe them" (Miljan, p.6). Note that this is quite a loaded quote, and hints at the role of language or communication in the ‘creation’ or "construction" of policy problems, issues, and
Miljan defines public policy as "conscious choice that leads to deliberate action -- the passage of a law, the spending of money, an official speech or gesture, or some other observable act -- or inaction" (p. 3). In other words, public policy is a sentient decision by policy makers to become involved in a certain matter, and the result is either clear deliberate action or no action at all.
One recent example took place in British Columbia. There had been great demand for housing there from wealthy foreign buyers, who were purchasing properties in BC as vacation homes …show more content…
When can inaction be regarded as public policy? Explain using your own examples.
According to Miljan (pp. 3-4), inaction cannot be regarded as public policy when it is simply the failure to act. This is because a problem must reach some level of public awareness and understanding before it can be brought to policy makers' attention. For example, the inaction of many governments regarding tobacco before the general public became aware of its health effects cannot be considered public policy, because there was no known problem at the time. However, inaction does become public policy if there is a problem that the public is concerned about and wants the government to act on and the government chooses to do little or nothing. Here there is a known problem that policy makers are consciously avoiding for reasons other than ignorance. A good example is Canadian inaction on climate change. Climate change is a problem that was exposed decades ago and that the general public understands rather well. Moreover it is even a problem that the Canadian government has repeatedly promised to address. Yet according to the Council of Canadians (n.d.), Canada has relaxed its emissions targets, abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, cut funding for renewable energy projects, and lobbied in favor of tar sands mining which is very environmentally …show more content…
What does Miljan mean by "the political agenda"?
Miljan defines "the political agenda" as how the language, gestures, and other communications of policy makers establish the issues that are important in public affairs. The political agenda also establishes policy makers' beliefs and attitudes about these issues, whether they are passive or active about them, and what they intend to do about them (p. 6).
4. Discuss the following the context of your understanding of the political agenda: "Political issues and policy problems are constructed out of the conflicting values and terminologies that different groups put forward when they compete for something that cannot be shared so as to satisfy them fully. These issues and problems do not exist apart from the words and symbols used to describe them" (Miljan, p.6). Note that this is quite a loaded quote, and hints at the role of language or communication in the ‘creation’ or "construction" of policy problems, issues, and