Public Interest Refers to The Welfare of People in Society Discussion

Some people feel that the public interest should be defined in terms of the interests and goals of the majority of the citizenry.  Others feel that there is not one public interest but there are many interests held by various segments of society and these interests should be represented by government.  Provide your  opinion on these divergent views of the public interest and defend your view.

Reply:

Nina Lakhani

In various cities throughout the United States, there is a desire to create affordable housing in affluent neighborhoods. This need comes from the public that is trying to get away from poverty and violence in low-income areas. Poverty and violence are a motivator to leave behind those communities and seek better opportunities for future generations. Having the opportunity outside of the impoverished communities is a goal to achieve a better quality of life. Those in these communities can be considered the majority of the citizenry.

On the opposite side of poverty are those people that may have generational wealth. Many may not agree to welcome those from low-income backgrounds. Most of these citizens have never experienced poverty and have a variety of misconceptions. This thought process often leads them to believe that the newcomers are criminals and will damage the property value of their assets. It is this type of mentality that prevents affordable housing programs to expand and provide a better opportunity to those in need.

It is my opinion in housing equality, that the government should represent both sides equally. Being able to hold open community meetings to share both pros and cons it’s a valuable tool. During these meetings, both sides can share their interest and remove stereotypes created around both interest groups. This collaboration of both sides can help those groups get to know their potential neighbors. Although both sides have valid points, there must be a middle ground where the government can appease both parties. Furthermore, not everyone is in support of both agendas, however, there is always room to compromise when negotiating for the fair treatment of all.

Second student

Devin Fragoso

Public interest is a very interesting, controversial topic when it comes to how it should be defined. There are two different views in regards to how public interests should be defined. The first definition is, the interest and goals of citizens should be upheld by the majority. After watching the lecture, we learned about the 4 dimensions of public interest. One important issue regarding this majority concept is that the ‘majority rules’ policy may overlook particular population groups and particular public interests could be short-term. The second view to how public interest could be defined is that various segments in society hold different interests and therefore should be represented by the government. We learned about examples of how the government protects and sustains society from outsiders (civil rights act).

In my opinion, public interest should be defined as if there is not one public interest but there are many interests held in various segments of society, which should be represented by the government. The reason I choose this definition is first due to the fact that little to no public interests are long-term. Individuals commonly change their ideas on societal concepts such as gun control. One may currently think no one should be able to carry a weapon in public but they could experience a tragic event that makes them change that belief. I am also always in support of having a ‘third party’ who is competent in decision-making and problem-solving to compile public interests to create long-term solutions for society.