I think that the U.S. government’s systems of checks and balances are a detriment to effective public policymaking in case of the Biden Administration’s proposed $1.75 trillion BBB plan. This is due to the fact that the Build Back Better plan is especially relevant for the current conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its adoption would be able to create a reserve and significantly reduce the burden that falls on the health and social security sectors in a pandemic. However, the bill is put on pause because of the system of checks and balances. At the same time, the problem is not in the bill itself, but in the personal hostility of the Republican party and the Democrat party.
The current battle between the two houses of Congress and between Congress and the President suggest the need to adjust our policymaking process. Rather strong inter-party divisions have not only led to the polarization of society. Due to the parties’ personal enmity with each other, many beneficial bills were rejected (Swain & Swain, 2014). Thus, the Congress uses the right granted to it by the Constitution to give advice and consent to the President on various draft laws for personal purposes. The differences in the views and activities of both parties are fundamental, the positions and beliefs are completely opposite. Republicans and Democrats cannot abandon them even if it will bring public benefit.
The observed situation – an active confrontation between two parties – can be changed if at least one more strong party is introduced. Thus, the transition from a two-party system to a multi-party system in this case could correct the situation. Multiparty system denies centrism and the concentration of full power in the hands of two large parties representing their own interests. The principles of multiparty system make it possible for a wider range of citizens to realize their political ambitions and goals. Such system would force Republicans and Democrats to compromise with each other. In addition, there would be a regular renewal of the ruling power, so its presence would counteract the emergence of today’s situation of personal confrontation between the parties.
Coalition-building is necessary in policy making because a coalition can achieve what one individual party cannot. It can mobilize collective action to achieve the required goals. The party putting forward the bill, within the framework of the coalition, can mobilize the missing resources through the participation of other parties. The coalition also increases the efficiency of individual parties. The success of the campaign is determined not only by the participation of several parties at once. Thus, the understanding of public needs and needs is improved by seeing the whole situation from different angles. Such a versatile view of interaction makes policymaking of each of the parties more effective.
A coalition of Republicans and Democrats would be a voluntary association of individuals who have a specific goal – to secure passage of the proposed legislation. Since the problem must be solved, the coalition would use a project approach that defines common goals and a common strategy for achieving these goals. Thus, the activities of both parties would be focused on points of contact, and not on disagreements. The absence of confrontation and unification for the sake of the plan presented by Biden made it easier for interest groups or individuals to enter the policymaking process.
Biden’s proposal contains effective proposals for solving acute problems (for example, climate and social) that a single party cannot cope with. In addition, the weight of one party is not enough to lobby for the interests. Therefore, the creation of a coalition is likely to have a positive outcome for Biden’s proposal. Combining and coordinating efforts will allow the parties to achieve great results. The unification of parties and the coordination of their efforts will make it possible to act more effectively. It will be possible to break Biden’s proposal into parts: then each party will solve its own task. A joint coordinated approach will allow to discuss Biden’s proposal from the point of view of public utility, rather than opposing the values of a particular party.
As the coalition creates conditions for the nomination of new leaders, the size of the American government may increase due to the fact that there will be a change of the poles of power. The parties will open up opportunities for the nomination of initiative people for active work within the coalition (Memo writing, n.d.). In addition, for both the party leader and the activists of the coalition, working in it will mean expanding their personal experience. The enrichment of diverse perspectives will be contributed by different members with different work experience and perspective views, so the scope of American government will also expand.
Reflecting on the Biden Administration’s plan to deal with the two crises facing the United States, the United States does not lag behind other industrialized nations in its policy interventions into the lives of its citizens. Just like in other countries, the US administration regulates a wide range of issues. Interventions in the lives of US citizens, as well as citizens of other industrialized nations, are carried out in the field of pressing issues. These are human rights, problems of national minorities, strategic political decisions, the fight against terrorism, economic and environmental activities. A similar scheme and degree of interference in private life operates throughout the space of industrialized states, including in the United States.
The US political system is constitutionally based on such democratic policy tools as popular sovereignty, separation of powers, respect for human rights, and multiparty system. Of all the constituent parts of the American federal government, only the House of Representatives is directly accountable to the voters. The President, instead of being elected by a simple direct vote, is chosen by an electoral college. Although this electoral body is formed through elections, it is not at all obliged to follow the wishes of voters. Therefore, today the United States avoids such democratic forms in which the government would directly follow the will of citizens. One of the results of such a policy-making environment is the arbitrariness of police officers, which enhances the ability of government to impact the lives of citizens (especially representatives of ethnic minorities).
Personally, I support Biden’s efforts because the president offers a plan for an effective system of social and climate protection. Biden’s Build Back Better package also includes provisions on child care and preschool education, aged care, healthcare, prescription drug pricing and immigration. All these issues are of acute importance in modern conditions, and these areas of life currently need to be reviewed. The option proposed by Biden is the most balanced of all the proposed initiatives.
References
Memo writing (n. d.). Files Directory Section of Sakai.
Swain, J.W. & Swain, K.D. (2014). Effective writing in the public sector. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.