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Elites vs. Masses

Elites vs. Masses. Sebastian Monroy-Taborda & Michael Peterson. Discussion Questions. Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the public making process? Or would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making?.

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Elites vs. Masses

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  1. Elites vs. Masses Sebastian Monroy-Taborda & Michael Peterson

  2. Discussion Questions • Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the public making process? • Or would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making?

  3. Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the public making process? • Reasons for not playing an active role: • Apathy • Lack of Knowledge

  4. Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the public making process? • 2008 Cornell poll asked Americans whether they had had ever used a federal government social program (57% said no). • Then asked if they had used or benefitted from 21 specific federal programs. • Among those who said they hadn’t received any federal assistance, 94 % said they had used at least one of the 21 programs, and the average respondent had used four.

  5. Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the public making process? • Percentage of beneficiaries of specific programs who report they “have not used a government social program” • Mettler(2011)

  6. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Risks (Disadvantages) • “Gut reaction” or Overreaction (e.g. Terrorism) • Friedman (2011, pp.86-87) suggest to explanations: • Psychological biases that causes an overestimation • Biased Information from those who provide it. Source: The Economist (2011)

  7. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Risks (Disadvantages – Continued) • Depth • Fewer Issues. • Reduced Responsiveness. • Inefficient? • Breath • More Issues. • More Responsive. • Cost-Benefit?

  8. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Representation • Theoretically, you vote for someone who represents a set a values • Thus, public input is mechanized into the election process • However, who is representing? • Elites? • Upper-class.

  9. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Data Sources: • CNN Money • Washington Post

  10. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? Source: CNN (2012)

  11. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Advantages • Saliency • Reciprocal accountability (Representative and public) • OECD (2001) defines government-citizen relations in policy-making inthree ways: • Information • Consultation • Active Participation

  12. Would greater public involvement in policy making pose risks to the quality of decision making? • Advantages (Continued) • Stakeholders • More means more ideas and points for analysis • (However, breadth vs. depth again) – need to limit stakeholders Source: Patricia Downs Berger (2006)

  13. Discussion Questions • Is public willing to have a more active role in policy making? • Who should be involved in inputs, and where should this involvement occur to ensure sound/quality policy? • Through elections? Through community meetings? Editorials?

  14. Hey! Thanks.

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