Briefly describe the basic requirements for the determination of public policy objectives.

(a) seeking truth from facts is the basic requirement of scientific research, and it is also a basic principle to determine the goal. According to this principle, the determination of policy objectives must first proceed from the actual public policy issues, not from the subjective will. According to the essence, manifestations and causes of the problem, the goals to be achieved in solving the problem are formulated in a targeted manner. Secondly, the principle of seeking truth from facts also requires us to be practical when determining the policy objectives, neither too ambitious nor unrealistic, nor can we degrade ourselves out of some plan of individual or group decision makers. The most important thing is that the policy objectives should be feasible, that is, there are sufficient social resources (economic, human, technological, information and power resources, etc.) to be allocated, and there are dominant and controllable environmental conditions to cooperate. (2) An important feature of the future-oriented policy goal itself is the anticipation of the future, which requires us to face the future when determining the policy goal. Specifically, when determining the relevant policy objectives, we must fully consider the future changes or continuation of the relevant public policy issues, causes and environmental conditions, so as to make our policy objectives meet the needs of future development. For example, China's current population policy objectives should fully consider the problems related to the aging society in the future and plan as early as possible, so as not to be thirsty and at a loss. (3) Systematic Coordination We often encounter multiple policy objectives when formulating policy objectives, especially when they are contradictory and conflicting. This requires us to try our best to coordinate multiple objectives of the same policy at the stage of determining policy objectives, and also to make the objectives of a certain policy consistent with those of existing policies or other policies to be introduced soon. This can not only avoid the confusion of policy objectives, but also help to formulate, implement and evaluate relevant policy programs. Therefore, on the one hand, we need to make a comprehensive consideration of the relevant policy objectives by using the viewpoints and methods of system theory, cybernetics and operational research; On the other hand, it is more important for us to find out the essence of the problem when determining the public policy objectives, and gradually reduce the number of objectives to the minimum as much as possible, because the reduction of objectives will make it easier to formulate, implement and evaluate a policy. (4) Clarity and concreteness Once the relevant policy objectives can be determined, it is necessary to make the objectives specific and definite. The related concepts, time requirements, target contents and related conditions in the target should be clearly defined or explained, and it is best to express them accurately, with clear and single meanings, and the requirements should be detailed and specific, so as to facilitate understanding and operation. For example, according to the Ninth Five-Year Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control in Taihu Lake and the Plan for 21, the planning objectives of water pollution prevention and control in Taihu Lake basin are specifically and clearly defined as: to ensure that the wastewater discharged by industrial enterprises (including township enterprises) and intensive livestock and poultry farms and hotels and restaurants along the lake in 1998 meets the national standards; In 2, the water quality of centralized drinking water sources and the main rivers entering and leaving the lake reached the third-class water quality standard of surface water, and the water body of Taihu Lake became clear. In 21, the problem of eutrophication in Taihu Lake will be basically solved, and the ecosystem in the lake area will turn into a virtuous circle. Only when the objectives are clear and specific can we create a good start and prerequisite for the planning, selection and implementation of the program, otherwise, the subsequent policy process will encounter many troubles. (5) Ethical considerations In a higher abstract sense, the goal of any public policy will involve some ethical values in society, such as freedom, democracy, security, fairness and efficiency. Different social subjects will have different positions and preferences on these issues, but a certain society will have dominant values on these issues. As an important tool and means for the ruling stage and stratum to realize their interests and will, the public policy must reflect their value preferences in the consideration of policy objectives. But sometimes, in order to better maintain the stability of the ruling class, it will also consider the interests and needs of the public, and even reflect the interests and needs of some socially disadvantaged groups.