Moral and Ethical Principles in Public Policy - Essay Example

Moral and Ethical Principles in Public Policy Introduction Nations or individuals- we all follow certain codes of conduct or moral and ethical principles that determine our actions or choices in a given set of circumstances. The source of all our actions are found in the common law, the generally accepted business practices and other such regulations that determine courses of action regarding social and financial dealings with one another. Our Government is divided into three branches- autonomous but connected with each other in a common purpose, namely to enact and propagate laws and principles that are legally and morally correct and acceptable to the major part of society. Public policy is what our individual representatives in Parliament choose to do, or not to do, about public problems that can have nationwide consequences. There are also public policy advocates that help bring public problems to the attention of Government on behalf of their clients and help Government made sound decisions or try to influence legislation in the favor of their client’s interests. Thus the actors or participants in public policy matters are primarily the Government functionaries, lobbyists and social pressure groups and other autonomous and semi-autonomous agencies. This paper will discuss the importance of public policy, actors in the policy macro-environment and their contributions, influences and value in shaping of public policy for a nation. The Importance of Public Policy A policy is a stated way of getting things done. It gives the procedures to effect a certain task in a given environment. It states rules and regulations under which business is to be conducted or a course of action is to be pursued. Policies are guides to action. It may also happen that when a certain course of action has been adopted and is followed consistently by a number of people or groups with no adverse consequences noted for quite a while, that in time becomes public policy regarding that matter. Public policy is said to define a way of life for society, in terms of acceptable behavior and rules and norms that become codes of conduct in that particular culture. It reflects what society regards as important to uphold and preserve in its actions and codes of conduct in dealing with others as well as each other. Actors in the Public Policy Macro-Environment Politics, like diplomacy, is the art of the possible. It is the authority and power to do what is right, to follow the will of the mass of the people, in choosing our actions and their legislation. We are what we do, and the same is true of society, as its moral principles are enshrined in its code of conduct and rules of law. Public policies reflect society’s most important matters and choices. There may also be a conflict of values, in which case a majority vote determines what is to be done or what receives priority over others. Actors in the public policy environment are the policy advocates, representatives at different levels of Government and in committees, commentators, lobbyists and others. At the highest level it includes the President, the Governors of various States and members of the Legislature. At lower levels it may involve school boards, the Mayor or the City Council. Of course, the type and number of actors involved in a particular public policy decision depends on its importance and reach- the number of people it is supposed to affect (Howlett, 1991). Do All the Actors Play Out the Roles They are Given Effectively? There has been considerable debate over whether the present procedures for enactment and consideration of public policy initiatives are sufficient to meet the purpose for which they were designed. Many a time it has been felt that we are proceeding at a snail’s pace when an important decision needs to be made. At other times it is felt that a decision requiring more debate has been purposely pushed through in a hurry, inviting consternation and displeasure from the press and the general public. Feedback is important, and discussions on social forums and networks such as Twitter and Facebook it is felt may also affect public opinion and legislation one day. For instance, Town Hall meetings did have an impact on the way the Obama Administration planned to cover healthcare for all Americans. Policy advocates or those pushing a particular agenda are aided by their knowledge of policy history, and they may use this to their advantage by appealing to the right representatives in the correct party-Republican or Democrat- in order to have a high possibility of getting a bill passed. At the other end of the spectrum, local lobbyists or public policy advocates may form their own coalition groups to aid or oppose a certain public issue, or even just to put it in the limelight. Gay marriages and stem cell research have been two such issues in recent history. There is also a feeling that putting too much power in the hands of the President or Chief Executive may result in hasty decisions that have little regard for the feelings of public representatives. George H.W Bush’s repeated insistence on carrying on the War on Terror, using Homeland Security to heighten terror levels and the bombing of Iraq for as yet undiscovered Weapons of Mass Destruction has invited criticism from all corners of the world, exposing the War on Terror to be a War for Oil and the ultimate dominance over Islamic nations. It’s the clash of civilizations all over again and the resulting financial crunch has brought America to the brink of bankruptcy and mass unemployment, the likes of which we have never seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. It has been seen that a public policy decision arises because of its importance at all levels. For instance, issues in public conduct emanate from social issues and behavior, which may have a larger impact in case of rioting and lead to loss of life and property and thereby undermine the safety and security of citizens. So any policy problem may in fact have implications and repercussions at the social, local, national and state levels. Rather than wait for a problem or issue to escalate further, we should use our resources at the required level to correct the situation in a timely and agreeable manner (Wildavsky, 1989). Once the problem has been identified and highlighted, it should quickly be determined at which level should it be addressed that makes it more conducive to a solution that would meet the requirements of all stakeholders. Decisions at the national level should aim at framing public policy, while the lower levels should be concerned with carrying out the policy implications in an executive capacity. The Federal, State and Local Governments have different roles to play concerning the development of public policy. Sadly also, it has sometimes been seen that the decisions that elected representatives make are geared towards their chances of public support or re-election, rather than what is right. This is what has led Harold Lasswell to comment disparagingly that “Politics is about who gets what, when and how.” Politics in decision making it is known has been affected by the lobbying of corporations and associations with vested interests, for instance on the issues of gun control and alcohol abuse (Gerston, 1997). Conclusion We have seen the role and importance of public policy and how different actors can aid or deter good public policy laws for their own vested interests. Clearly there is much room for improvement as not all the actors are playing their role effectively. Some actors have more clout than others and are often seen using it to their advantage, which may just be tantamount to being detrimental for the larger public interest. References Gerston, L.N. (1997). Public Policy Making: Process and Principles. M.E. Sharpe: New York. Howlett, M. (1991): ‘Policy Instruments, Policy Styles and Policy Implementation.’ Policy Studies Journal, Volume 19, Section 2, Spring 1991. Isaacs, W. (1999). Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together. Doubleday: New York. Wildavsky, A. (1989). Speaking Truth to Power: The Art and Craft of Policy Analysis. Transaction Publishers. New Brunswick, New Jersey. Read More