The Essay Answers Should Demonstrate You Understand The Rele

The Essay Answers Should Demonstrate You Understand The Relevant Conce

The essay answers should demonstrate you understand the relevant concepts. Provide specific names, terms, and examples when appropriate. Possible Question 1. One explanation of why certain issues receive more political attention (and presumably policy action) than others is based on the notion that characteristics of a problem can either automatically draw attention to a problem, or make it easier for interest groups to direct public attention to the problem. List, explain, and provide examples of four of the six characteristics that can help draw attention to a problem.

Explain in significant detail what Deborah Stone says about the use of either “numbers” or “symbols” as ways to influence the public agenda. (Pick one.) Although “environment” is mentioned, why do you think climate change does not make it to the list above? Possible Question 2. Who controls the agenda? Explain the three models discussed in class. Looking at the survey information above, discuss which of the three models is most useful for explaining what voters paid the most attention to in July 2016 and why. Possible Question 3. Imagine you are the lead strategist for either the Society Aiding the Non-rich Trying Arduously (SANTA), a group that seeks to provide low-income workers with health care and scholarships, or for Markets Are Really Very Excellent Liberated (MARVEL), a group dedicated to reducing all economic regulations. Devise a three-pronged strategy for drawing attention to either 1) the problems of inequality and the need to provide balanced economic opportunity for all, or for 2) the potential costs and injustices caused by regulation. What kind of advantages might you have if you get your concerns to be viewed as a “crisis”? Do you think that right now, as the Trump presidency is about to start, is a good time for your issues? Why, or why not?

Paper For Above instruction

The influence of a problem’s characteristics plays a critical role in determining its prominence on the political agenda. Four key characteristics that help draw public and political attention include the severity or scale of the problem, its immediacy or urgency, its familiarity or resonance with the public’s values, and its visibility. For example, a health crisis such as opioid addiction achieves attention due to its widespread prevalence (severity), recent spikes (urgency), societal relevance (familiarity), and media coverage (visibility). These traits facilitate interest group mobilization and policy responses, as they make issues tangible and pressing. Conversely, problems lacking these features often languish in policy neglect, despite their importance.

Deborah Stone elucidates how symbols, particularly names, images, or metaphors, are powerful tools in influencing the public agenda. By framing issues with compelling symbols, advocates can evoke emotional responses that transcend dry statistics, making issues more relatable and salient. For instance, labeling a policy as “tax relief for the middle class” invokes positive associations, generating support through moral appeal, whereas “tax burden on the poor” underscores injustice. Symbols serve to simplify complex issues, create loyalty, and mobilize collective action. Although the environment was mentioned, climate change may not appear on such lists primarily because it often struggles with competing symbolic frames—either as an urgent crisis or a contested scientific issue—making consensus and political action more challenging.

Regarding agenda control, three models are prominent: the pluralist, elitist, and bureaucratic models. The pluralist model posits that policy influence is distributed among many interest groups, with public opinion and lobbying shaping priorities. The elitist model suggests that a small, wealthy elite fundamentally control the policymaking process, steering it to serve their interests. The bureaucratic model emphasizes the role of government agencies and bureaucrats who determine policy priorities based on expertise and administrative priorities. Analyzing voter attention in July 2016, the pluralist model best explains the situation, as the media coverage, interest group campaigns, and public discourse appeared driven by diverse groups vying for influence before the presidential election, reflecting a decentralized process aligning with pluralism.

As a strategist for SANTA, a group advocating for low-income workers, a three-pronged approach would involve: (1) emphasizing human stories and testimonials that personalize the issue, making inequality tangible; (2) leveraging media to highlight disparities and framing the issue as a moral imperative requiring urgent intervention; (3) collaborating with political allies to propose concrete policy solutions that can be presented as achievable and timely. If the issue is perceived as a crisis—such as rising homelessness or healthcare gaps—the pressure for urgent policy action increases, facilitating legislative change.

The timing of advocacy efforts during a presidential transition like the one under Trump can be advantageous or detrimental. On one hand, the focus on immigration, economic deregulation, and healthcare reform could open space for new narratives, especially if framed within crisis terms. On the other hand, high political polarization and the focus on confirming appointments may overshadow these issues, reducing their policy momentum. If the issues align with emerging crises or resonate with the political climate, it can enhance chances for policy change; otherwise, they might be sidelined in favor of more immediate political maneuvers.

References

• Cohen, R. (2016). The Politics of Policy Analysis. CQ Press.
• Kingdon, J. W. (2011). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Harper Collins.
• Stone, D. (2012). Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Schattschneider, E. E. (1960). The Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
• Baumgartner, F. R., & Jones, B. D. (1993). Agendas and Instability in American Politics. University of Chicago Press.
• Birkland, T. A. (2015). An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models. Routledge.
• Luke, M. (2010). The Politics of Environmental Policy. Routledge.
• Fiorina, M. P. (1981). Retrospective voting in American national elections. Yale University Press.
• Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
• Jacobson, G. C. (2004). The Politics of Congressional Elections. Pearson.