Public Administrators and Policymaking

According to the U.S. Constitution all law making is in the hands of the legislature. Enforcement is in the hands of the executive branch. According to Frederickson, "public administration is part or form of politics, which it often exercises leadership in the policy process, and that neutrality is next to impossible (Frederickson 229)." To me this means that as an administrator we will have the power to make policy. I also think that as administrator we are to obey the law and enforce the law. We do make policy but we do not make law, nor do we choose which laws to enforce. We are to obey and enforce all laws.

Justice violations and social equity violations come in many different forms and from the highest levels of government. In 2008, three Black panthers were arrested for voter intimidation. They were dressed in their Black Panther uniforms carrying nightsticks. Their appearance alone was threatening. As voters entered and left the poling lace they would tell white voters that (Civil) "You are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker!"

The three were arrested, and charged with violations of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. They did not show up to court nor did they answer the summons, which is normally a default conviction. The DOJ dropped the case and let them walk. Finally March 01 2011 before a House appropriations committee holder said that while the incident may have been inappropriate it does not compare to what people endured in the south in the 60s (Gerston). Apparently, "crackers" need a little payback from the AG for past injustices, which have been corrected. Apparently, a little ex post facto policy making is in order here.

Then of course we have fast and furious, the operation that got Border Agent Brian Terry killed with one of the guns purchased through fast and furious. The AG is complicit through this program in the murder of two Americans and many Mexicans. Holder is stalling congress by giving congress hundreds of (Attkisson) "blank pages" as evidence in their quest for the truth. The AG is not one for openness and honesty. He is making his own policy.

In Florida after the Martin shooting, where Zimmerman killed Martin, the black panthers as a vigilante group raised a $10,000 bounty to have Zimmerman taken dead or alive. This is a violation of Florida code 777.04 and 787.01. This would be a good place for the Obama administration along with the AG to cool racial tension. So far, they have done nothing to cool any tensions. The big question is why will they do nothing to reduce racial tensions? Since this is an election year, we need to wait only until November to determine if the tensions will be used for some nefarious purpose.

Apparently, this administration with the AG in the lead believes that it is making policy correctly by choosing which laws it will enforce to whom it will enforce them, when it will enforce them, and what penalties that will be extracted. I do not believe that is what Frederickson really had in mind, but it seems to work for this AG. Now what do we do about it. It is simple; he needs to be impeached. Impeachment is not simple and we need people with integrity in congress to work for impeachment. After he is out, then he can be tried in front of a jury for his crimes.

References

Civil Rights. Eric Holder Vs. Black Panthers IBD Edotorials (2010) http://news.investors.com/article/534551/201005191849/eric-holder-vs-black-panthers.htm

Gerston, Josh. Eric Holder: Black Panther case focus demeans 'my people' The Radar (2011) http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0311/Eric_Holder_Black_Panther_case_focus_demea ns_my_people.html

Frederickson, George, H. Public administration and social Equity. University of Kansas. (1990)

Attkisson, Sharyl. Government's answer to "Fast and Furious" records requests: Blank pages (April 2012) http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/doj_foia_response_1-2.pdf?tag=contentMain;contentBody