Writing Public Policy

In public policy, we must use language as a tool to deliver our ideas. Many philosophers are thinking about basic principles of language. We are directed by George Orwell to get the pure function of language. From Orwell’s explanation we also could identify the misuse of language for manipulation and vagueness. How language can be corrupted for political objectives producing “degeneration of language” and “ugly language”. Foucault, on the other hand focus his analytics on the potential hegemonic function of language by the power holder using the concept of “governmentality”. This term is related to how the government using language as a tool to “win the consent of citizens” and finally reach its objectives. Using this art work, the government tries to control citizen’s mentalities, cultures, rationalities, attitudes by using appropriate words and language.


We should effectively deliver our communication messages as same as our original tough both orally and by written. In this context, communicator should know the target audience to decide content and tone of their writing. It is also importance to use literature and our reading as the raw material of our writing. Because literature is represent and shape the reality in our world, by imaging, impressing and expecting the psychological connection of our thinking mechanism, even included unreal things. We should also precisely to choose the proper words to represent our ideas. By choosing the proper words we will get the power of words using “ingredients mixture” of pathos, logos and ethos in our oration or writing.

Communication strategies should be decided to convince the still “standing on the fence” audience. We should not only anticipate the objection, but also ready with the most appropriate answer. On the other occasion, we should avoid cliché besides sometime many writers using euphemism to soften the reality to reach their objectives. Using appropriate words can form people’s behavior, controlling mind to shape their perception and action, like the effect of propaganda repetition. Not surprisingly many policy makers more comfortably using “climate change” instead of “global warming” and “enhanced interrogation technique” rather than “torture”.

Words can deliver thoughts, feelings and emotions. Using metaphors, jargons, symbols, pictures, stories we can arouse ideas, thinking, motivate, and also inspire audience with something that familiar with, to generate social movement or policy enactment. We should avoid using staleness of imagery, tired metaphor or imprecise words to get a clear language. The influenced audiences by our framing strategy in public policy writing will make us easy to get our objectives and directing the audience to accept our conclusion. On the other hand, inappropriate choosing words can affect disaster like in the World War II when vague diction in the answer of ultimatum affected two Japanese cities deteriorated by nuclear bomb by the Ally.

There are many slogans from international respected orator, from the classic as Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream”, LBJ’s “war on poverty” until Kevin Rudd’s “we say sorry”, and Obama’s “yes, we can”. Many great leaders, however, not only have an issue, but also can deliver it using the careful words choice that can be easily understood by their audience individually and urge them taking action collectively. We should aware of many roles, techniques and approaches, how as decision maker can communicate our policy effectively to our respective audience, to get the objective of our decisions on public policy.

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