Political Analysis

As may be inherently obvious there has been much support for such a bill that seeks to combat a social ill that is widely believed to be heinous. Those who actively support the bill may also come as no surprise. Main advocacy for this act has arisen primarily from human rights groups, women’s rights groups, and religious groups. Those who have made themselves vocal and visible include the National Organization for Women (Pappas, 2007), the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Duncan, 2005), the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (Rozdzialm, 2008), and the International Justice Mission. The bill as adapted for California’s jurisdiction was authored by Assemblywoman Lieber and co-supported by District Attorney Harris and the California Anti-Trafficking Initiative. There is received bi-partisan support (Jasperson, 2005). Among other supporters, a man by the name of Chris Smith, representative and former chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, has been pivotal in the bill’s passage.

Criticism for the bill’s effectiveness has resulted, however. Some critics assert that the bill is so broad that trafficking has hardly been eased, traffickers are not being prosecuted, and those who have been enslaved are not receiving the treatment promised (“A Short History of Sexual Slavery”, 2007). There is no majority opposition in regards to the valiant attempt of the bill; there are some, however, who feel the bill needs to be narrowly defined so application is more effective. In summary, difference in ideology is not the issue but the opposing views on the application of the bill serve as the dissension point.

Though it may be presumptuous to say the author would assume the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was created with respect to the rational approach to social welfare policy. In this particular instance, the social unwell addressed in this policy is widely held by the status quo as unacceptable. Slavery as inhumane is certainly a relatively new idea, but even so, it is commonly accepted. The benefits and costs cannot, in such a bill, be measured strictly by monetary means. The benefit of saving people from the bondage of slavery is reason itself. Implementation monetarily has also been reevaluated to address the possible misuse of grants allocated to combat instead of aid trafficking. This policy will be constantly evolving, but will never be widdled to nonexistence. The eradication of the concept it is addressing is far too supported to ever lose recognition.