Portfolio Options- Chapter 1

1-1  A-V  *  Are international exchange programs for city governments in the public interest? Watch the video concerning one exchange partnership between Kettering, Ohio and Silistra, Bulgaria. Assuming you are a taxpayer/citizen of Kettering, make two opposing arguments: A. the exchange is in the public interest and B. it is not in the public interest--basing each on one of the five perspectives of public in PA (pp. 27-47). And finally, C. indicate which of these arguments appears more compelling.  (1 or 2 units)  

1-2  Have you lived in different regions within the U.S. or world? If so, draft a commentary that compares/contrasts prevailing sense of “public interest” between/among those regions/ Cite examples and then speculate about reasons for differences. (1 or 2 units)  

1-3  Frederickson distinguishes between “collective and noncollective (inchoate) publics.” Discuss your agency’s/organization’s experiences involving noncollective publics with considerable detail on issues and problems encountered. (1 or 2 units)

1-4 Read two articles related to local law enforcement issues: “Lawsuits may pull plug on traffic light cameras” and “Police criticized for memo on traffic-citation quotas.” Draft a response focusing on (a) whether there are significant questions concerning public interest in either or both (be careful how you make that judgment) and (b) whether a utilitarian philosophy (versus one more grounded on civic virtue) affects your interpretations in (a). (1 unit)