Chapt 2, how we decide what is good for society Flashcards
Differing needs and interests
Different groups of people have competing interests and managing these interests require trade-offs to be made. Indeed, with a diverse population, each segment would have different needs as they would be at different stags of their lives. Even if various groups could agree on what is important, they would likely disagree on which is the most important and of the highest priority. With the differing needs and interests of members of the public, the government must consider them before getting involved in an activity which it thinks is good for the society but is not perceived in a similar manner by the community affected, such as the building of eldercare facilities in a housing estate. This is always a challenge because the government has to look into the various interests and prioritise, it is not easy because of the limited resources and the way things are prioritised may not be accepted by all citizens.
Differing priorities
Different groups of people would have differing priorities. Usually due to what they feel is important at that point in time. A person’s financial situation also affects one’s priorities. Managing these priorities can be difficult and require complex decision-making as the citizens different priorities are probably all valid for them. Decisions may be considered based on a criteria. Thus agreeing to what is good for society can be difficult and cause tensions as it would be difficult to please everyone.
Unequal sharing of cost
When decisions are made, some individuals or groups will bear greater costs of development than others. NIMBY- a situation where residents exhibit strong negative reactions to facilities which they find undesirable. The challenge is in the managing of unhappiness as choices that are made will inevitably lead to some trade-offs which will benefit 1 group more than the other. Tensions can result from the groups of people if some perceive that they have not been treated fairly.
