Government! |s policies must benefit not only the nation but also all its people. However, what kinds of policies are good for the country and truly profit the people? How to take balance of the experts! | opinions and public! |s demands? Someone may say that the nation belongs to its people and the government should service its people so that major policy decisions should made by the general public. Assuming that we count on general public to make the decisions, there will be too many different opinions to follow. Assuming that we follow the majority for democracy, the minority may always be repressed.
The publics usually lack professional knowledge, especially specialized fields! X diplomacy, national defence, economy! X so that they can! |t do a proper decision on major policies and have wrong perspective on the situation. During 1970! |s, Chiang Ching-kuo! One of the most respectful premiers in Taiwan! X achieved many foresighted economic developments. One of the developments caused a lot of disputes. The freeway connects north part and south part of Taiwan. At that time in Taiwan, people who owned motorcycles were little; people who had vehicles can nearly be counted on one! |s fingers.
The Essay on Public Policy 2
In the contemporary society, the world is characterized by freedom of speech and expression and also by a market place of policy ideas waiting to be prioritized or given a legislative action. As explained in detail by Hays (2001), analysis of Public policy debates began by John Kingdon (1984) and reissued in 1995. Kingdon critically examined how specific policies problems solutions become ...
Only the vehicles can be drove on the freeway. Accordingly, the public thought that the freeway was built for privilege only. The general public strongly opposed the development. Chiang Ching-kuo accepted the suggestions of the experts and ignored the arguments of the public. Nowadays, the freeway is the main role of Taiwan! |s economy and traffic.
The traffic of freeway is so heavy that the government is planning to build some more freeways like the original one. Major policy decisions are always left to experts is not a good idea. Some policy decision is made for special or minority group. Sometimes, the experts have no idea about the group! |s actual requirements; sometimes, the experts do not familiar with the group! |s unique custom and culture. In such situation! Experts may make policies that even not benefit but rather damage the group. Lanyu, is a small island off the south-eastern coast of Taiwan.
On the island lives a special tribe, Yami, with unequaled culture. A traditional Yami residence is built in the center of a partially sunk shaft-like enclosure with a terraced interior. In other words, the house is built under the ground instead of above it. The authority thinks that living in such a building is inconvenience, hence the government build some free apartments for the islanders of Lanyu kindly. Yet, Yami people enjoy and get used to their orthodox residence.
They dislike the modern building and feel it is uncomfortable to live. Now, the apartments become pigpens and henhouses, and people still stay in their old traditional houses. simply put, major policy decisions can not just leave to the politicians and government experts. The decisions must be made by both the authority and the public. The government set the major direction of policies that benefit both the country and its people carefully, and the general people support their opinions, claim their need and check the achievements. Then, the policy will not be too nearsighted or too idealistic..
