Construct Policy Alternatives to Address the social Problem of Abortion (Bardach, pp. 16-30; Kraft and Furlong, pp. 124; 126-127)
identify various alternative ways of addressing or dealing with abortion laws in the United States. Specifically, consider the following ideas or questions:
a. What and how can governments (local, state, national) do to address the problem? Is the problem better addressed by non-profit and/or faith-based organizations? Or a combination of both government and non-governmental organizations? (Refer to Kraft and Furlong, Chapter 5, Figure 5.2, page 165 for examples). In other words, are there policy typologies that may provide some guidance in determining how to address the problem? (See Kraft and Furlong, pp. 166-168).
b. What are some creative ways to address the problem? Has the government addressed the same or similar problem before? If so, what was the outcome? Did it work? Why or why not? Consider a brief review of the scholarly literature; look at parallel ideas applied in other policy areas, such as regulation, free-market incentives, etc.
2) Identify and describe THREE politically feasible policy alternatives to address the public or social problem identified in writing assignment #1. Highlight each alternative's strengths and weaknesses. Then select the one best alternative of the three you identified and described. Justify your proposal, i.e. selection of the one best alternative, using a triangulation of evidence, including conceptual and empirical." Regarding this last sentence, what I mean is that you are to use both conceptual or theoretical ideas coupled with empirical information or data. In other words, don't just identify and describe your three politically feasible policy alternatives only theoretically or only empirically. Draw upon literature that provides both. In addition to scholarly literature you may use survey or polling results, government agency data, or think tank data, particularly if you believe this information is helpful to strengthen your empirical data component.