Gertsen ch. 7 p. 1

Gertsen ch. 7

PARTICIPATION, POLITICS AND POLICY MAKING

Putting it Together

Review

Chapter 1: What is policy making? Public/Private issues. How related to

democratic citizenship? Models of citizenship? U.S. Government basics

Chapter 2: Identifying Public Policy Issues

A. triggering Mechanisms: What makes issues more/less important &

actionable – scope, intensity, duration, resources

B. Researching Issues

Chapter 3: Public Policy Proposal

A. Learning what can/should be done, by whom

B. Developing a proposal

Chapter 4: Taking Action

a) defines and explains advocacy, agenda building and agenda builders

b) Describes the “who and where”

c) Discusses decisions related to an Action Plan: choices, tactics

includes some general advice and tips

Chapter 5: Implementation and overseeing implementation

Chapter 6: Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

Questions you may want to consider in reflecting on your experience

Some thoughts for the future

2. SOME OF WHAT YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED

A.U.S. Representative democracy creates framework for relationships

between people and government, you and political system

B. What is your own civic identity / views about citizenship?

1. passive approach: allows public policies to flow in caretaker fashion.

you do little more than allow existing patterns to continue

you defer to those already in authority, existing power holders

2. active approach: individuals (you) iunsert themselves into public

policy making where ever possible; trying to have an impact on

issues; trying to change power relationships

If you take an active approach – participation is critical

experience leads to sharpening citizenship skills

C. Service Learning – Participation

is about making a difference (service)

is also about learning

a different way of learning than books, lectures etc.

3. REFLECTION:

THE MOST IMPORTANT EVALUATION OF ALL

How has the process changed you personally?

What have you learned from the experience?

about citizenship?

about politics?

about yourself?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

A. Questions about Yourself

B. Questions about You as a Citizen

c. Questions about you and the Community

d. Some Last Questions

Some Final thoughts from the Soapbox

Hopefully all went well, goes well, fantastic

But disappointment and frustration common

4. HANDLING DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION

A. Frustration and failure in public policy making: “more often than not”

Frustration with individuals in authority

more realistic assessment of how the system works

Alienation and apathy of the young

role of selfishness vs. self interest

B. SKEPTICISM YES, CYNICISM NO

1. Cynicism: can’t make a difference

self-defeating, easy way out of participating

2. Skepticism

inquiry, unwillingness to accept face value

challenge authority

test limits of your power

Alternatives to cynicism “labor intensive”

work, persistence, courage, time consuming

Why fight for lost causes?

6. WHY CIVIC OBLIGATION

A. Rights and Opportunities mostly covered

B. Obligations?

1. Ethical Responsibility

duty to others?

2. Justified in terms of self Interest?

enlightened self interest – appreciation of connection between our

personal concer4ns and those of the larger community of which we are

a part.

3. Justified on Pragmatic Grounds?

physical exercise tones body

political participation Whitman

“Training school for making first class men. Life’s gymnasium”

4. Preservation of freedom, democracy, rights

not automatic

participation in politics necessary to preserve these

enjoyment of private rights includes an obligation to participate in public affairs.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

A. Questions about Yourself

How has the experience changed you personally?

  • Has your self identity been affected?
  • Do you feel differently about yourself?
  • What did you get from the experience? What did you give?
  • Have you discovered any hidden strengths or weaknesses?
  • What is the most satisfying part of the experience?
  • How has your self confidence been affected?
  • Have your values and priorities changed?
  • Have your views of your education changed?
  • Have your career goals been affected in any way?

B. Questions about You as a Citizen

How has the experience developed and changed your sense of YOU as a

citizen and your understanding of citizenship?

  • How important is your “civic identity” to your overall identity as a person?
  • Has this changed?
  • What is your understanding of what it means to be a good citizen?
  • Rate yourself as an involved or potentially involved citizen? Do you have the skills, knowledge, drive etc. What are your strengths and weaknesses in this regard?
  • What is the single most important quality of citizenship?
  • What skills and understanding do you think is necessary for effective citizenship?
  • Do you think that active participation is important? Is it realistic? Why or why not?

C. Questions about you and the Community

How has the experience changed your understanding of your

community?

  • How has your understanding of the local community changed?
  • Have you come into contact with individuals you would not otherwise have met?
  • How has this affected your view of fellow classmates?
  • Do you have any thoughts about how the university and community are, or should be related?
  • Have your views about public officials or those in authority changed?
  • Would participation by people like you in the policy process be valuable?
  • What do you think about the democratic ideal and the political system as compared with the beginning of the semester?

D. Some Last Questions

How does this experience compare to other university courses?

What is the greatest risk you took?

What is one favorable moment, or anecdote from your experience?