Name
Instructor
Course
Date
Interview
My meeting with economic development director Donna Kennedy focused on different issues in economics and public administration. We also covered business issues and policy formulation. We did not dwell only on formal issues. Kennedy was interested in my life, and she wanted to know how I coped in Tempe. She told me how businesses were moving from California to Arizona because it is cheaper doing business there. Policy is a major determinant in business. It determines how people conduct businesses. Kennedy informed me of the importance of determining how a particular policy will affect businesses. She told me that one has to consider the needs of both small and large firms when formulating policy because they experience different consequences. She also noted the importance of lobbyists during policy formulation. Every industry has lobbyists, and they are interested in ensuring the best interests of their sectors. Therefore, they will propose policies that have the least harm to their industries and businesses.
From our discussion, I realized how much work is involved in public administration. Kennedy discussed the many areas where people formulating policies have to consider. She gave me the example of the education sector. She noted that the people concerned had to know how to get the funding needed for their particular sector. Policy makers are involved in a diverse range of issues regarding economic development, foreign investment, and others. Policy drives the economy. One wrong step in the formation of policy can have negative consequences as it can lead to misrepresentation of the government and its decisions.
We also focused on matters concerning politics. Kennedy informed me that politics does not necessarily determine the situation on the ground and that it is not always a representation of reality. She gave me the example of Mexico and Arizona. Many people think that the people in Arizona do not want Mexicans crossing their borders, and this has caused much tension. However, Arizona and Mexico do much business together. The people in Mexico welcome companies from America. Still on matters concerning politics, Kennedy informed me of the state shared revenue. She told me that the population of a place determines the revenues that the state or city will get. Therefore, the more inhabitants there are in a place, the higher the revenue that place will receive.
Kennedy discussed the importance of dialog and information. Anyone in policymaking has to communicate with the relevant stakeholders when establishing policy. It is important to know how policies are likely to affect the stakeholders before they are implemented. This requires policy makers to interact with individuals from different sectors. In addition, Kennedy gave me a list of websites, which contain essential information dealing with governance, politics, commerce, and politics. The websites focus on specific issues. Some of them obtain funding from the government though they have faced budget cuts in the recent past.
Our discussion moved past the intricacies of policy to drugs. I had an idea that Arizona could consider the legalization of marijuana and use the revenues realized in the education sector. Kennedy was more skeptical than I was. She told me that it was imperative to consider all possible angles to the situation. She was observing the effects and consequences of marijuana legalization in Colorado. We also talked about drug smuggling. She also noted that it was essential to ensure that drugs did not cross the border to America as the presence of drugs increased fear and crime. Once that happened, it was easier for the smugglers to take the drugs to other parts of the country.