Public administration concepts and practices

Public Admin

The Ideal of Equality in the U.S. Government

Discussing equality as an ideal in United States is difficult, as the stated principles behind many policies and laws are not actually lived up to in practice. The schism between the governmental policies that have the greatest potential to foster equality in the United States and those that actually accomplish this, then, is rather large. Ostensibly, the Bill of Rights and several subsequent amendments to the United States Constitution (notably the 14th and 19th) have established equality as the only legal state of affairs in most instances -- equal freedoms of expression, access to government for various reasons, trial by peers, voting, etc. These principles and imperatives are excellent on paper, and in theory could create a society and government that actually worked on the principle of equality. In reality, of course, the potential for equality is thwarted by numerous smaller and one larger force.

In the real world, political equality cannot be divorced from economic equality. Access to greater resources means that one can propagate one's views more easily and act to shape them environment more directly and comprehensively. A move to true communism is not practically feasible either, nor is it especially democratic, but in terms of providing real equality, the governmental policies that redistribute wealth through taxation and spending programs like Medicare, welfare, food stamps, and Social Security have done the most to foster an equal playing field. These systems are far from perfect, as recent and ongoing issues clearly demonstrate, and this shows the basic inequality that is inherent to a capitalist society. Things might (and only might) be fair under democracy and capitalism, but they are not equal.

Excessive Force During Criminal Transport

Obviously, Officer Steven Connerly has problems conducting himself properly when he has inmates in his direct care and charge. Though it is not often popular to say, it must be acknowledged that certain jobs in law enforcement -- specifically police and corrections officers -- attract personalities with control issues or problems with aggression. This is not meant to suggest that all or even most people who occupy these jobs have these issues, but the appeal of these jobs to people who do have these qualities should be obvious. The essence of such jobs is to maintain order, and in the case of corrections officers it is to exert control over a population of usually compliant but unwilling individuals. For those with an axe to grind, whether consciously or not, this can look like an appealing outlet for aggressive behaviors in a scenario where these behaviors are often required and will seldom, it is assumed, lead to reprimand or punishment.