The public policy

The Issue of Criticism in Public Policies

The issue of criticism predominates throughout Frances Fox Piven's article, "Welfare Reform and The Campaign to Regulate American Workers." Piven questions the sincerity and honesty displayed in the public policies implemented to aid the underprivileged and elderly in America throughout the piece.

Changes in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program

The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, which was created to help low-wage female employees, is mentioned by the author. Over time, the policy has undergone changes that have modified its basic intent. First, the policy was changed such that, regardless of how little money the moms made, wage work was their sole alternative. Employment became a requirement for anyone who wished to benefit from the welfare.

The federal government required the states to ensure that a minimum of 50% of those who needed assistance was working, with a push by President Bush to raise the figure to 70%. Federal law also allowed states to sanction recipients with loss of benefits if they transgressed any of the new rules in the system, and the power to rebuff, stall, or deny new applicants entry to the welfare. This left many poor people out of the policy even though federal grants to the states are not reduced. The welfare that was initiated to offer help to the poor is the same barring them from receiving the assistance.

Criticizing Labor Unions and Educational Reform Proposals

Piven also criticizes the labor unions and the educational reform proposals. Labor unions have been weakened, and the National Labor Relations Board which has the mandate to oversee collective bargaining rights has been left toothless. He claims that the educational excellence purported to be put in place is more of dumbing-down of public education considering the standards in place. The push for privatization, which is part of the reform, is seen as a means to profiteering, similar to the privatization of the administration of welfare.

Changes in the eligibility for welfare benefits such as social security have resulted in many people who would originally be eligible to be cut out of these benefits. All these reforms are in the name of instilling worker discipline. Piven argues that American politics are characterized by neoliberalism whereby ideologies that suppress the democratic capacity of the working population are spread to prevent the people from pressing the government for protective measures. Therefore, the changes in the reforms are not entirely genuine and honest, and the original idea of offering assistance to those who need it has been lost.

The Hypocrisy Behind Public Policy Reforms

The criticism offered in the article sheds light on the hypocrisy behind the public policy reforms by the policy makers. It is evident that the idea of the reforms does not have the interests of the public in place. Some of the people who push for the reforms and their execution have hidden agendas to benefit themselves at the expense of the needy.

According to Piven, the push for the reforms in public policy started way back in the 1970s, a time when the American corporate was struggling with profit margins. The response by the corporate to control the situation and enlarge profits was to lower wages and social benefits. The American business leaders came together and joined politics. These business people employed men to act as neutral arbiters of the policy while in truth they represented the businesses that funded them. This explains why the rich become richer since they are in control, while the poor become poorer. It also explains why federal law imposes tight restrictions on eligibility to the policy benefits.

My Interest in Public Policy

Public policy is a fascinating field of study. This is because it gives one an opportunity to analyze the political processes and the creation of essential programs for the public and examine how these programs work.

My interest in this field is to critically evaluate the basis for the public policies put in place in this country and how effective they are in achieving the intended goals. The process of formulating these policies and enacting them is of interest, and most importantly, to see the policies fulfill the purpose of their creation.

With the revelation from Piven's article, my views on public policy have been altered. From the text, it is evident that the agenda for policy reforms is not always for the interest of the public but could be driven by individual interests of those pushing for them. This information acts as an eye-opener to focus on public policies with a keen eye and evaluate them from different perspectives to understand the underlying factors behind the formation of particular policies.

Expectations from This Class

The expectations from this class are varied. Firstly, I hope to learn about the procedure in place for the creation and enactment of public policies. Secondly, I want to learn about as many policies that have been passed in American history and how they have performed. Thirdly, I am interested in reading as many reviews on public policies from authors and critics of these policies to gain a deeper understanding of their operations. Finally, I hope to learn the reasons behind the success or failure of past public policies and reforms.