Agenda - 10-23-2007-3b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

d`! ~4T~i'a4CHIHEN°f I1~: PR®FE~S®1Z C~-LN1®IZE' .. C®(~MEN1' SOCIAL JUSTICE AS, A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY CHARACTER: THE CI3[ALLENGES AND OPPORTLT~~TITIES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JOHN O. CALMORE; Reef C. Ivey ll Research Professor; UNC School of Law In the fall of 2003, the local Durham newspaper reported that Democratic Party presidential candidates John Edwards and Howard Dean each promised that if elected he would hold a summit on social justice within 90 days of taking office. Holly Ramer, "Edwards, Dean Vow Focus on Social Justice," The Herald Sun, Oct. 20, 2003, at C9. They said they would invite groups for a summit on how grassroots organizing can play an expanded role in solving society's problems. According to Edwards, "We have to make real, bold, dramatic moves that we can really achieve." Social justice is usually directed by NGOs, from Oxfam America to the Green Party, from academic and training institutions to local grassroots groups. It is not an explicit goal of local governments. Orange County is thus poised to make the real, bold, dramatic, and achievable moves mentioned by Edwards. Of course, here is the challenge and the opportunity. Is it within the capacity and heart of the Board to advance a social justice agenda in terms of real, bold, dramatic, and, most importantly, achievable goals? If the Board shies away from this format, will it underachieve,, perhaps doing no more than paying lip service to social justice? Few local governments take this on because it is very hard to do. Against this backdrop, I have been asked to address three questions: (1) what is social justice in a legal, social, and historic framework; (2) how is social justice manifested; and (3) how could it be manifested? As questions 2 and 3, respectively, suggest, I am exploring both a program/policy of social justice as well as the aspirations of social justice. I. What is Social Justice? Judith Shklar has suggested that only by understanding the face of injustice can one understand justice. Asocial justice goal cannot be developed at the home office and then imposed top-down on the people. We should keep this in mind as we proceed. Because there are many views of social justice, it is important for the Board to define it for itself; to tailor the concept in a way that fits with its character and mission. See htip://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social iustice (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). According to Wikipedia, "Social justice...is a concept largely based on various social contract theories. Most variations on the concept hold that as governments are instituted among populations for the benefit of members of those populations, those governments which fail to see to the welfare of their citizens are failing to uphold their part in the social contract and are, therefore, unjust. The concept usually includes, but is not limited to, upholding human rights; many variants also contain some statements concerning more equitable distributions of wealth and resources" (I would add power). The concept of a social contract presents a good framework for striking a bargain with the community. Additionally, "'Social Justice' is a primarily Leftist and Liberal concept." Id. .ORANGE COUNTYSOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL REPORT ;, , Page 22 of 59, _ _. _ .