The Moderation Dilemma

by Bernstein, Anya

• ISBN13: 9780822957591
• ISBN10: 0822957590
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-01
• Publisher: Univ of Pittsburgh Pr

Summary

The effort to legislate family and medical leave policies in the United States illustrates a dilemma at the heart of the American political process. Faced with strong opposition from business lobbies, proponents of family and medical leave had to balance their desire to pass the policy they wanted against the desire to pass a policy at all. Bernstein analyzes how this "moderation dilemma" played out at the federal level and in four states. In so doing, she develops a new model of policy innovation based on the debate between the ideologically committed who want all or nothing (and often get nothing) and compromisers who will settle for less (and often get a lot less). Book jacket.

Author Biography

Anya Bernstein is a lecturer in the social studies department at Harvard University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
The Moderation Dilemma and the Politics of Family and Medical Leave	1	(27)
Equality and Difference: The Historical Context for Family and Medical Leave	28	(19)
Policy Making in a Liberal Context: Connecticut and Massachusetts	47	(23)
Policy Making in a Conservative Context: Tennessee and North Carolina	70	(21)
The Passage of the National Family and Medical Leave Act	91	(24)
Family and Medical Leave Since 1993	115	(19)
Conclusion	134	(17)
Appendix One: Selection of Interview Subjects	151	(2)
Appendix Two: List of Interview Subjects	153	(8)
Notes	161	(18)
Suggestions for Further Reading	179	(14)
Index	193