The Sometime Connection: Public Opinion and Social PolicyThe Sometime Connection introduces a variety of theoretical perspectives on the connection between public opinion and policy and applies them to six social policy topics: abortion, affirmative action, welfare, Social Security, corrections, and pornography. The book provides complete policy histories, information on trends in public opinion, and a diagnosis of the role that public opinion has played in the development of policy for each of the six topics discussed. |
Contents
Public Policy and Public Opinion The Elusive Connection | 1 |
Imprisonment and Public Opinion The Broken Thermostat | 37 |
Affirmative Action A Downsian Sequence | 71 |
The Regulation of Pornography Policy Change and NonAttitudes | 107 |
Abortion Strident Controversy and Policy Responsiveness | 135 |
Welfare Symbols and Substance of Policy Responsiveness | 163 |
Social Security Promises They Cant Deliver | 209 |
Public Opinion and Social Policy Change Sequences and Contingencies | 235 |
Notes | 261 |
| 267 | |
| 285 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abortion issue abortion policy administration AFDC affirmative action policy American approach argued attitudes Belz benefits broken thermostat chapter child pornography Civil Rights commission concerning Congress consensus consistent crime and punishment decisions determinate sentencing discrimination Downsian sequence EEOC election evidence example favor federal fund impact important imprisonment increases individuals interpretation legislation liberal majority mass media mass public Meese commission ment moral regulation moral regulatory non-attitudes obscenity opinion and policy opinion leadership opinion manipulation opinion polls path dependency period phase policy change policy development policy history policy learning policy responsiveness policymaking political elites poll data poll questions popular pornography preferences presidential pro-choice public opinion public policy punitive racial Reagan requirements responsive to public restrictive salience sentencing laws sexual social policy Social Security substantial suggests Supreme Court symbolic thermostatic model tion trends venues wedge issue welfare policy welfare recipients welfare spending women