Overview: you will submit a brief 1- to 2-page paper discussing policy reform in the United States. Currently, the U.S.
constitution limits whether and how government agencies or government actors can conduct sweeping policy reforms.
Specifically, the following critical element must be addressed:
Restrictions: Identify some examples of how the U.S. government is restricted from adopting sweeping policy reform to address an identified public
health issue.
Pros and Cons: Explain at least one pro and one con of that restriction.
Alternative: Conclude by proposing an alternative way to solve the public health issue. Be sure your proposal considers population health improvement.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Policy reform is a crucial aspect of addressing public health issues in any country. However, in the United States, the government is limited in its ability to adopt sweeping policy reforms due to restrictions imposed by the constitution. In this paper, we will identify some examples of how the U.S. government is restricted from adopting sweeping policy reform to address an identified public health issue, explain the pros and cons of that restriction, and propose an alternative way to solve the public health issue.
Restrictions:
One of the restrictions imposed on the U.S. government is the lack of federal regulatory authority over the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry is a significant public health issue as tobacco use can have severe health consequences. However, the government is unable to regulate the industry due to the restrictions imposed by the First Amendment, which protects free speech, including commercial speech.
Pros and Cons:
The restriction on federal authority over the tobacco industry has its pros and cons. One of the pros of this restriction is that individuals have the freedom to make their choices about tobacco use. The cons, on the other hand, are that the tobacco industry advertises and promotes its products in ways that are misleading and addictive, leading to serious health consequences.
Alternative:
An alternative way to address the public health issue of tobacco use is through education and awareness campaigns. These campaigns aim to educate individuals about the dangers of tobacco use and help them make informed choices. Additionally, increasing taxes on tobacco products can help reduce tobacco use by making it more expensive. These approaches would consider population health improvement and would not infringe upon individual choice.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, restrictions imposed by the constitution limit the U.S. government’s ability to adopt sweeping policy reforms to address public health issues like tobacco use. While this restriction has its pros, it also has its cons. Therefore, alternative approaches such as education and awareness campaigns and increasing taxes on tobacco products are necessary to address these public health issues.
