American Public Policy

1
American Public Policy

• Symbols and Numbers
• Political Science 316
• Mark Stephan

2
Todays Class

• Problems
• Symbols stories and synecdoches
• Metaphors
• Ambiguity
• Numbers, Measurement

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Problems

• Kraft and problems
• The standard definition according to Stone
• The components of problem definition Symbols,
  Numbers, Causes, Interests, and Decisions

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Symbols

• Stories (how we describe policy concerns and
  problems)
• Synecdoche (sin-ECK-da-key) where the part
  represents the whole
• Sidenote who tells the stories?

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Metaphors

• What are policy metaphors?
• Broad types
• Strategic use of..

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Ambiguity

• What is Stone getting at here?
• Should we really praise ambiguity?
• What are the downsides?

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Policy Differences

• Differences between Bush and Kerry on healthcare
  policy?
• How about Social Security policy?

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Numbers

• Why are numbers so important for problem
  definition? (standard view)
• Categorizing
• Numbers as metaphors, numbers as norms

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Counting is political?

• You have a 75 chance of being crazy if you
  believe this is true..
• Agenda-setting
• Clarity
• Creating boundaries
• Offering the promise of resolution
• Symbols of Precision and Objectivity

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Measurements

• Measuring people versus peas, candy, or bombers
• Evaluating government performance
• The power to measure is the power to control
  what does this mean?
• If all of this is true, are numbers even useful?
  My take.

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Preview of Next Class

• More on problems
• Dont fall behind on the reading!!