In-Depth Notes on Government and Social Constructs

Understanding Government and Coercion

• Government Authority:
  • Governments have the authority to coerce people to adhere to rules and laws. Non-compliance can result in punishment.
  • Important to note that the state has the sole legitimate authority to use coercion.

Role of Private Organizations

• Private Coercion:

  • Not only governments have coercive power; private organizations (e.g., Homeowners Associations, businesses) can impose rules and consequences.
  • Example: Contracts signed with an HOA bind individuals to specific rules, similar to compliance with laws enforced by the state.

• Business Power:

  • Businesses like Coca-Cola can indirectly coerce consumers through pricing strategies and discrimination policies (e.g., based on race, religion, or political affiliation).
  • The lack of First Amendment protections in private businesses allows them more freedom to enforce their own rules without the same oversight as government entities.

Neoliberalism and Privatization

• Neoliberalism Overview:

  • Neoliberalism promotes reduced government spending and increased market reliance. Often confused with liberalism, which in other countries entails regulation and social welfare programs.
  • Key to neoliberalism is privatization - transferring public services to private organizations to run on behalf of the state (e.g., privatization of prisons).

• Issues with Privatization:

  • Leads to concerns about decreased public accountability and oversight.
  • Private contractors (like Blackwater) can undertake government functions (military operations) without the same level of public accountability as government employees.

Impact of Private Organizations on Democracy

• Accountability Concerns:
  • Voters cannot hold private entities accountable in the same way they can government officials, leading to potential abuses of power.
  • Examples: Lack of electoral accountability for private military contractors or corporations leads to decreased public trust and responsibility.

Social Construction of Target Populations

• Concept of Social Construction:

  • Society creates assumptions and stereotypes about groups or individuals leading to varied perceptions and treatment.
  • Impacts the allocation of government resources; revered groups (e.g., veterans, seniors) receive more benefits and support, whereas marginalized groups often face obstacles.

• Deservingness in Benefits:

  • Political rhetoric often reflects who is considered ‘deserving’ of assistance (e.g., veterans versus marginalized groups). Political campaigns tend to pander to these societal values, often avoiding criticism of positively perceived groups.

Public Policy and Political Participation

• Effects of Policy Design:
  • Policies can encourage or discourage political participation:
  • Positive Feedback Effects: Programs like Medicare incentivize involvement by directly affecting beneficiaries.
  • Negative Feedback Effects: Complicated access to benefits (e.g., welfare) creates distrust in government and discourages participation.

Categories of Citizens Based on Political Perception

• Advantaged Citizens:

  • Viewed positively and have political power (e.g., seniors, businesses), they receive significant public support and benefits.

• Dependents:

  • Perceived positively but lack political power (e.g., children), receive paternalistic support but have less control over benefits.

• Contenders:

  • Politically powerful but viewed negatively (e.g., wealthy elites), they might engage in politics covertly through influence rather than overt public participation.

• Deviants:

  • Negatively perceived by the public and politically powerless (e.g., drug users, the homeless), often face punitive policies, limiting their access to government services and benefits.

Government Accountability and Immigration Policy

• Legal Precedents:
  • Historical conflicts between the executive and judiciary branches raise questions about the extent of presidential power, particularly regarding treatment of non-citizens compared to citizens in policy implementation.
  • Executive decisions can prioritize public perception and political expediency over scientific and humanitarian responses (e.g., vaccine distribution during pandemics).