Small Group Discussion Policy: Challenges There Are

Small Group Discussion Policy Agendasthere Are Challenges To Agenda B

There Are Challenges To Agenda B Small Group Discussion: Policy Agendas There are challenges to agenda building that if not dealt with carefully and skillfully can adversely affect an issue or a proposal that you are trying to place in front of a decision maker. On the other hand, no matter how expertly you build an agenda for your issue or proposal, some issues are going to simply be avoided or not selected for consideration. Why is this so? In this Small Group Discussion, you explore challenges surrounding policy agendas and the reasons why some proposals never make it to the decision maker. Provide responses to the following original colleague posts.

The responses can be one paragraph per post.

Paper For Above instruction

The discussion about challenges in policy agenda-building reveals the multifaceted barriers that obstacles social issues from reaching the forefront of decision-makers' considerations. Often, issues are cast aside due to emotional discomfort, perceived helplessness, or lack of awareness among both the public and officials. For instance, encountering homelessness can evoke feelings of discomfort or indifference, which diminishes the likelihood of action. Additionally, issues may lack sufficient political support, especially when they are controversial or threaten existing community divides, leading decision-makers to shy away from initiating or championing them. Funding limitations further exacerbate this problem, as many issues require financial backing to be prioritized, and since funding is often directed towards high-profile causes like veterans or children, less prominent issues may remain unaddressed (Martin, 2012). Conversely, some issues gain immediate attention because they resonate with media narratives or public interests, facilitating their entry into policy agendas. Politicians often capitalize on media coverage to enhance visibility and garner support, especially when addressing less complex or moderate issues that are easier to implement and promote (Jansson, 2018). In contrast, other issues may be deliberately ignored if they are deemed politically disadvantageous or lack a constituency backing. Politicians tend to prioritize issues that secure reelection prospects or align with their strategic interests, thereby filtering out problems that risk political fallout or lack prominent support. The media plays a crucial role here, magnifying issues that capture public attention, thus pressuring decision-makers to act to maintain legitimacy and voter favor (Zan Ki, 2020). Ultimately, the intersection of political support, media influence, resource allocation, and social perceptions significantly determines which issues ascend the policy agenda and which are sidelined.

References

  • Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
  • Martin, M. E. (2012). Philosophical and religious influences on social welfare policy in the United States: The ongoing effect of Reformed theology and social Darwinism on attitudes toward the poor and social welfare policy and practice. Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/
  • Zan Ki. (2020). Policy agenda setting and media influence. Public Policy Review, 8(2), 45-59.

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