Summary: Social Contract Theory

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2. Within the Social Contract Theory, living within a society requires us to have rules and laws. This gives people the groundwork for how people and governments cooperate. Individuals receive stability when they live in a social structure. This gives them security from other individuals that may want to do them wrong. In order for them to receive this protection, they have to give up some freedoms, such as being able to steal without receiving punishment. Individuals need to commit to helping make society secure, and happy. In this case study the town manager of a beach town needs to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen on the access to the currently restricted access beach within their town due to objections from nearby towns. …show more content…

A higher fee would be charged to non-residents to utilize the parking lots, which will help pay for taxes that the town residents pay on the lots. The residents of the beach town would be unhappy with this decision because it makes it much harder for them to find parking for the beach. Despite that this would please the other communities because it will give them better access to the beach. They may not like the higher parking fees but the access to the beach may outweigh that downfall. Third, would be to give full access to only one of the adjacent communities due to the historical connection that they have with the beach town. This may be acceptable to the beach town because of the connections they have within that town but it will cause animosity within the other outlying towns. This may also cause legal consequences for the …show more content…

If not, everyone will feel the liberty to do as they please which will cause chaos and resentment. Enforcement of the social contract within the town will be carried out by the Board of Selectmen and town authorities. I think the best option under the Social Contract Theory would actually be a little bit different from the recommended suggestions. I think keeping things equal between all citizens will be the best possible solution for everyone. The town should keep the parking lots the current size that they are to keep the beach population to a manageable and safe level for everyone visiting. Parking meters should then be installed within those parking lots, giving open access to all towns and individuals. By putting in the parking meters this will allow everyone equal access to the beaches. Due to the parking meters being for a specific amount of time, individuals will only be able to be parked in the spot for that amount of time. When the time is up and they leave this allows others to come in and use the beach, cutting down on the people not being able to get parking spots. The money from the meters will help to maintain the beaches as well as the parking lots. The town may also make money with the meters to put back into the town for their residents. Expired meters will receive a parking ticket which will also provide the city with

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