Salt Shaker Press: Evaluating Policies

To evaluate the validity, effectiveness, and ethics of a political policy, use the following 50 criteria formatted as investigative prompts:

Objective Alignment: Does the policy directly address the specific problem it was created to solve?
Evidence-Based Design: What empirical data or peer-reviewed research supports the logic of this policy?
Measurability: Are there clear, quantifiable KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to determine if the policy is succeeding?
Causality: Is there a logical link between the policy’s actions and the desired outcomes, or is it based on correlation?
Alternative Analysis: Were other, less intrusive or less expensive options considered and rejected for valid reasons?
Scalability: If this policy works on a local level, can it be effectively scaled to a state or national level?
Flexibility: Does the policy include "sunset clauses" or mechanisms to adjust based on new data or changing conditions?
Clarity of Language: Is the text of the policy unambiguous, or is it open to wildly different interpretations?

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Do the long-term economic benefits outweigh the immediate and long-term costs of implementation?
Opportunity Cost: What other essential programs are being defunded or ignored to pay for this policy?
Budgetary Sustainability: Is there a permanent, viable funding source, or does it rely on temporary debt?
Market Distortion: Does the policy create artificial monopolies or suppress healthy market competition?
Incentive Structures: Does the policy inadvertently reward bad behavior or penalize productive behavior (moral hazard)?
Inflationary Impact: Will the implementation of this policy contribute significantly to the rising cost of goods and services?
Compliance Cost: What is the financial and administrative burden placed on citizens or businesses to follow this policy?

Constitutionality: Does the policy infringe upon any protected rights outlined in the nation’s founding documents?
Jurisdictional Authority: Does the governing body proposing the policy have the legal right to regulate this specific area?
Rule of Law: Is the policy applied equally to all citizens, or does it grant special exemptions to specific groups or individuals?
Due Process: Does the policy provide a fair mechanism for citizens to appeal or contest its application?
Statutory Consistency: Does this policy contradict existing local, state, or international laws?

Disparate Impact: Does the policy disproportionately harm marginalized or vulnerable populations, even if unintended?
Individual Liberty: To what degree does the policy restrict personal freedom in exchange for perceived collective security?
Privacy Rights: Does the policy require the surveillance or collection of private data from citizens?
Intergenerational Equity: Does this policy benefit the current generation at the extreme expense of future generations?
Inclusion: Were the communities most affected by this policy involved in its drafting and deliberation?
Human Dignity: Does the policy treat individuals as ends in themselves, or merely as tools for a state objective?

Administrative Capacity: Does the current bureaucracy have the expertise and resources to execute this policy effectively?
Enforceability: Is the policy actually enforceable, or will it be widely ignored due to lack of oversight?
Corruption Risk: Does the policy create "gatekeepers" or opaque processes that are highly susceptible to bribery or graft?
Technological Feasibility: Does the policy rely on technology that does not yet exist or is not yet reliable?
Infrastructure Requirements: Does the physical infrastructure (roads, grid, internet) exist to support this policy’s goals?

Unintended Consequences: What are the most likely "second-order" negative effects that could arise from this policy?
Environmental Impact: Does the policy cause long-term ecological damage that outweighs its short-term social goals?
National Security: Does the policy increase the country’s vulnerability to foreign influence, cyber-attacks, or physical threats?
Public Safety: Will the policy lead to an increase or decrease in crime, accidents, or public health emergencies?
Social Cohesion: Is the policy likely to bridge social divides or further polarize the population?

Transparency: Was the policy drafted in public view, or was it created behind closed doors by special interests?
Bipartisanship: Does the policy have a broad base of support, or is it a "winner-take-all" partisan imposition?
Special Interest Influence: Who stands to profit most from this policy, and do they have an undue influence on the legislators?
Accountability: If the policy fails or causes harm, who is legally or politically responsible?
Ethical Consistency: Does the policy align with the fundamental moral values the society claims to uphold?
Public Mandate: Is there clear evidence (polls, votes, protests) that the public actually wants this intervention?

Exit Strategy: Is there a clear plan for how to dismantle or end the policy if it is no longer needed?
Historical Precedent: Have similar policies failed or succeeded in other countries or time periods?
Dependency Risk: Does the policy make the population or the economy dangerously dependent on a single government subsidy?
Global Competitiveness: Does this policy make the nation more or less competitive in the global market?
Cultural Alignment: Does the policy respect the traditions and cultural norms of the people it governs?
Scientific Integrity: If the policy is based on science, was the data free from political manipulation?
Reactionary vs. Proactive: Is the policy a "knee-jerk" reaction to a single headline, or a thoughtful response to a systemic issue?
Total Resource Drain: When considering time, money, and human effort, is the "juice worth the squeeze"?

Salt Shaker Press