If I was to define Public Policy, I would describe it as a group of political officials coming together to collaborate and make decisions are certain topics that effect the community. These decisions will ultimately aid in resolving current issues while avoiding replica's of the past with choices that did not fair well with the community (Rushefsky, 2013;2014;).
These decisions should be made with the people's interests at heart and the desire to progress as a community. While these decisions are ultimately made by the council, I do believe that the public should have an influential impact on these decisions.
As far as Public Policies that have impacted myself and family the most in my small town of Beaufort, SC; I would definitely have to say the every day road construction. The city has agreed to include new traffic lights & circles among the town and in doing so, multiple lanes have been blocked and traffic flow is pretty grueling come five' O clock (Communications & Accountability Dept., 2018).
I understand the purpose of this construction as to improve the over all quality for our community once finished, BUT the timeline for these changes is quite lengthy. I don't believe that I have lived in Beaufort, where there has not been some type of road construction or brief road closures. I believe that these changes were made as Beaufort is an ever growing community.
As time has passed, our town has brought in more franchise businesses among our "mom & pop" businesses that used to flourish in this town. Some of them still do, but with two Marine Corps bases in the area like Parris Island, SC; we often have many families traveling to us every other week for their Marine's graduation and this brings even more traffic flow among the regulars in town. I surely hope that their road construction plan will be of great benefit in the future, but as is it seems like we are more backed up than ever before. It is an adjustment to say the least.
In regard to national policies that effect my family and I, I can't think of one that is specific to my family, but I do know that this act will effect my daughter when she begins school. This act is the "Children's Internet Protection Act" which ensures that schools are placing protection and blocks on their school computers to prevent children from being exposed to issues of an inappropriate nature on the internet (Federal Communications Commission, 2018). Its one thing to be able to monitor the activity that your child see's at home on your personal electronics.
That can be easily prevented if you understand how to place appropriate blocks, but when you're children have to be away from you to learn, you want to know that they are in a safe environment where their minds and hearts will be protected at all times. I think that this is a great policy to abide by to ensure that all children are viewing the internet safely and are not exposed to the inappropriate that can float among the internet.
References:
Rushefsky, M. E. (2013;2014;). Public policy in the united states (Fifth;5; ed.). Florence: Routledge Ltd - M.U.A. doi:10.4324/9781315701394
Attachment:- Response Paper.rar