Amerca Less Anxious About Foreign Affairs

American citizens are less worried about foreign policy than they have been in four years, according to Public Agenda's Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index. As Elizabeth Woolen's blog notes, the elites and leaders surveyed thought that jobs and the economy were more pressing issues. This is an example of what we learned about the conditions of a public issue that get that issue onto the public agenda. One of those conditions was the scope of the problem. Job-loss and poor economy affects most Americans directly, while foreign policy does not. Jobs also affect those Americans with higher intensity and higher cost than foreign policy does. That is why even though foreign policy may need to be higher on the agenda, it will not be until the economic problems are solved.

Federal grants to fund police positions announced

“Washington (CNN) -- With hundreds of communities nationwide forced to slash budgets and layoff police officers, the disclosure Thursday of which cities would receive federal grants to fund police positions had been eagerly awaited. Five hit the bureaucratic jackpot. Justice Department officials announced cities in virtually every state would receive anywhere from a single officer to a legal maximum of 50 police officers. In total, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program, administered by the Justice Department, announced it had divided the $298 million appropriation to fund 1,388 police positions. The five biggest recipients, each receiving grants for 50 officers, were Houston, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Metro Dade County in Florida; the Sacramento, California, Sheriff's Department and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ‘There is almost nothing more effective in keeping the public safe than cops on the beat who have the equipment and resources they need,’ said Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli.”

The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program is allocating $298 million. The federal program provides grants to fund police positions and more than 4,000 police agencies had requested funds Perrelli led the parade of officials announcing the grants at a ceremony in Houston. Left unsaid was the long list of cities that received little or no funding. Police belongs to “Government Sector” in American life. It helps “market sector” and “non-profit sector” work more efficient and honestly for our society. Police here to protect and serve society. The problem could be solved using half the number of police if cities highbred competent cops, either ex-military or college graduate. Of course cops get a bailout too. Officials acknowledge there remains a continuing hunger for federal assistance among state, county, and local law enforcement agencies. But for the cities that received funds, this was a day for quiet celebration.

Post by: Ziying Yuan

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/30/cops.funding/

Insuring Young Adults

The health care reform is one policy process that has been on the public agenda for quite some time, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Obama, as well as a majority of US citizens, have a cognitive judgment towards this issue and know that it can be altered. This past Thursday, implementation of the new health insurance policy was enacted. This policy ensures that young Americans may stay on their parents’ insurance plans until they are 26 years of age. Whereas before they were dropped at 19, or 23 if they were full time students. These policy objectives have been clearly and consistently defined, making this a “top-down” implementation approach.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/insuring-young-adults/?scp=1&sq=health%20care%2026&st=cse

-Kelly Neary

What are we going to do about immigration reform?

Immigration reform has been on the public agenda for a minimum of seven years now. It even made it to spot number six on the classroom list of biggest public problems. In this article, Scott Biddle says, "You can't hope to implement sound strategies unless you understand what brings people to the United States and what they thing about the nation once the get here". One thing thats clear from the research is immigrants are happy in the U.S. and would do it all over again. They even hope for their kids to grow up here. There are currently 34.2 million foreign born immigrants and over 12 million illegal immigrants in addition. The legislature need to make a decision about this situation and get the reform off of the public agenda. But are immigrants really hurting the U.S., or are they helping by working for minimum wage and putting their money back into our economy?

www.publicagenda.org/pages/immigration

Michelle Watkins