Part A:
Litigation: The process of taking legal action. Litigation could help an interest group by creating controversy about a certain candidate, and causing people to doubt him, and vote for the other candidate. Also, it can be used to fight laws that a group considers to be unjust.
Campaign contributions: By donating money to a candidate, or, more importantly, their campaign, they give a candidate the funding required to create positive publicity in favor of their candidate of choice.
Grassroots lobbying: The process of attempting to indirectly influence legislature not through the Senator or Congressman, but through their constituents. It also covers more traditional lobbying tactics of attempting to sway political votes.
Part B:
American Medical Association: Litigation. It fights against laws it believes are unjust in court.
Sierra Club: Grassroots lobbying. The Sierra club is one of the oldest interest groups in the history of the United States, and it specializes in grassroots lobbying.
NRA: Specializing in Lobbying, the NRA is one of the largest, and most powerful lobbying groups in the county, it is also one of the oldest. It's membership is over 5,000,000.
NAACP: Litigation: The NAACP repeatedly went to court to defend civil rights issues. Especially for African Americans.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Essay #6
Part A:
Age: Older people vote more. A lifetime of political information. Very strong opinions come with age. Votes could potentially effect the elderly more than the rest of the general population (medicare, welfare, veteran benefits (in some cases))
Education: More education means more likelihood of voting. Better understands issues posed to them.
Part B:
Those under 18 years of age are not allowed to vote for the president, and this decreases voter turnout because the young have strong opinions, and would vote for the president of their choice, if they had the option.
Part C:
Political parties. Without the need to actually vote for your candidate, you can still "participate" in the political process by belonging to a political party. There is no commitment to belong to a party, one simply needs to claim loyalty to that party, whether or not they actually do anything about it.
Age: Older people vote more. A lifetime of political information. Very strong opinions come with age. Votes could potentially effect the elderly more than the rest of the general population (medicare, welfare, veteran benefits (in some cases))
Education: More education means more likelihood of voting. Better understands issues posed to them.
Part B:
Those under 18 years of age are not allowed to vote for the president, and this decreases voter turnout because the young have strong opinions, and would vote for the president of their choice, if they had the option.
Part C:
Political parties. Without the need to actually vote for your candidate, you can still "participate" in the political process by belonging to a political party. There is no commitment to belong to a party, one simply needs to claim loyalty to that party, whether or not they actually do anything about it.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Senator Wyden
Biography:
Born in Wichita Kansas, on May 3rd of 1949, Senator Ron Wyden attended school in Palo Alto California. He attended college at Stanford, and studied law at the University Of Oregon Law School in Eugene Oregon. He provided legal services to senior citizens from 1977-1979. He was elected as a democratic representative to Congress, and served from 1981-1996.
In 1996 he resigned from Congress, upon being elected to the Senate. He has served on the Senate ever since. Ron Wyden is devoted to making his constituents heard in the Senate. Wyden regularly holds "open to all" town meetings, so that he can hear what his citizens want from him, and from their government. He attempts to reach across the aisle, and reach bipartisan solutions.
Committees:
Senator Ron Wyden supports Abortion, and Stem Cell research. He has also voted in ways that "support" pro-choice, such as allowing minors to cross state lines to receive abortions. He also voted to protect the secrecy of minors who got abortions out of state, by not making it a necessity to contact the parents of aforementioned children. But he did not desire for all teenage girls to become mothers at 16, so he voted to spend $100,000,000 on preventing teen pregnancy by properly educating teenagers, and providing contraceptives.
Wyden's opinions on education is a very liberal standpoint. He has attempted to ensure that all potential college students know the circumstances they shall find in the working world after college. He hopes that this will allow students to make more educate decisions on which college they should attend, what their major should be, and what career path they should follow if they wish to succeed in life. Wyden also authored the College Tuitions Savings Act, which eventually became law in 2001 as part of a larger bill designed to aid the economy through tax relief, economic growth, and other such programs.
Questions:
1. What is your opinion on foreign military aid/ usage?
2. Do you believe that the territories under federal control should be allowed to join the United States by becoming states?
3. Do you believe that we should continue affirmative action programs, or do you believe that we have progressed far enough as a nation that we no longer need them?
Born in Wichita Kansas, on May 3rd of 1949, Senator Ron Wyden attended school in Palo Alto California. He attended college at Stanford, and studied law at the University Of Oregon Law School in Eugene Oregon. He provided legal services to senior citizens from 1977-1979. He was elected as a democratic representative to Congress, and served from 1981-1996.
In 1996 he resigned from Congress, upon being elected to the Senate. He has served on the Senate ever since. Ron Wyden is devoted to making his constituents heard in the Senate. Wyden regularly holds "open to all" town meetings, so that he can hear what his citizens want from him, and from their government. He attempts to reach across the aisle, and reach bipartisan solutions.
Committees:
-
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Ex Officio, Subcommittee on Energy
- Ex Officio, Subcommittee on National Parks
- Ex Officio, Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
- Ex Officio, Subcommittee on Water and Power
-
Senate Committee on Finance
- Chairman, Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
- Member, Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Member, Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
- Joint Committee on Taxation
- Senate Committee on the Budget
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- Senate Special Committee on Aging
Senator Ron Wyden supports Abortion, and Stem Cell research. He has also voted in ways that "support" pro-choice, such as allowing minors to cross state lines to receive abortions. He also voted to protect the secrecy of minors who got abortions out of state, by not making it a necessity to contact the parents of aforementioned children. But he did not desire for all teenage girls to become mothers at 16, so he voted to spend $100,000,000 on preventing teen pregnancy by properly educating teenagers, and providing contraceptives.
Wyden's opinions on education is a very liberal standpoint. He has attempted to ensure that all potential college students know the circumstances they shall find in the working world after college. He hopes that this will allow students to make more educate decisions on which college they should attend, what their major should be, and what career path they should follow if they wish to succeed in life. Wyden also authored the College Tuitions Savings Act, which eventually became law in 2001 as part of a larger bill designed to aid the economy through tax relief, economic growth, and other such programs.
Questions:
1. What is your opinion on foreign military aid/ usage?
2. Do you believe that the territories under federal control should be allowed to join the United States by becoming states?
3. Do you believe that we should continue affirmative action programs, or do you believe that we have progressed far enough as a nation that we no longer need them?
Friday, November 8, 2013
John Mitchell
February 21, 1975, sentenced to 2.5-8 years in prison, for involvement of Watergate scandal.
John N. Mitchell was the attorney general under president Nixon. Before that, he was a respected bond lawyer, and he also directed Nixon's political campaign's in 1968, and 1972.
Mitchell was born Detroit Michigan, and grew up in Long Island. He served in the navy for three years during WWII. He served as a municipal bond lawyer from 1938 until 1968 (with the exception of his time spent in the military). Mitchell was married twice, and his second wife became quite famous, in her own right, for pronouncing Mitchell's innocence in the Watergate scandal. The marriage eventually broke up, do to her alcoholism, and "erratic" behavior.
Mitchell was appointed attorney general in January of 1969 by president Nixon, and president Nixon made a strange request to J. Edgar Hoover (director of the FBI) that no background check be run on Mitchell. Mitchell resigned from the post in 1972 to run Nixon's re-election campaign.
Mitchell was a firm believer in the fact that the government needed to enforce "law and order" to protect the citizens of the united states, and that this was more important that a person's civil liberties.
It is believed that his belief in "law and order" are what led him to help organize Watergate. In fact Mitchell is best known for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, in which he was a key player. He evaluated the results of the first Watergate burglary, and also ordered five men to return to fix wire taps, and photograph more documents. Tapes from the oval office, and testimony by those involved established that he was tantamount in planning the break in.
Watergate was a hotel where assorted democratic representatives were meeting to discuss there upcoming campaign. The Watergate scandal, however, was the actions by Richard Nixon, and assorted high ranking republican's to discover what the democrats were planning, and how best to counter their political movements. The Watergate scandal involved wire-taps by the CIA (on the president's orders) and a number of burglaries, to steal democrat information. The Watergate scandal took place in June of 1972.
During the summer of 1973 the United States senate led an investigation into Watergate, and whether or not the burglaries were "illegal, improper, or unethical," and whether they were actually connected to President Nixon. The hearing ranged from discovering if he knew anything about the break-in's, or the cover ups, to Alexander Butterfield announcing there were tapes to prove it. The entire affair ended with Nixon's resignation from the presidential office, in 1974; although John Mitchell was sentenced to prison, and fined $42,000 in 1975.
Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_N._Mitchell
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall06/Weiner/pages/People/mitchell.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/05/a-look-back-at-the-senate-watergate-hearings.html
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Essay's
Essay 1.The part of government that was originally closest to the people, was the house of representatives. The house of representatives was the part that elected the president, on behalf of the people who they represented. The Senate, however, was not chosen by the people, or the house of representatives, but the state legislatures. The major flaw with this "system" is that it leaves very little power in the hands of the individual, but that has been fixed (to an extent) over time.
The united states government decided to limit the rule of the majority. The first way in which they did this, was by creating a system of checks and balances. Another way that this is done, is the fact that the majority of states can overrule the majority of people. A third way this happens, is the fact that everyone gets the same amount of representation in the Senate, thus the bigger states, have the same power as the smaller states.
Over the years, we have moved to a more democratic system of government. The 17th amendment allowed the people to directly vote for their Senators; this puts more power into the hands of the little people. Primary elections allow for people to decide who runs for president, as opposed to just which of the established candidates gets power.
Essay 2.
There are a number of ways to be involved in the political process. Such as funding a candidate: this means that someone who shares your views will be taking office; and it also means that you don't need to deal with the stress of running a campaign yourself. Another way to involve yourself i politics, is to run yourself: this way, you can actually attain power, and make changes; and also, your funding primarily comes from outside sources.
The united states government decided to limit the rule of the majority. The first way in which they did this, was by creating a system of checks and balances. Another way that this is done, is the fact that the majority of states can overrule the majority of people. A third way this happens, is the fact that everyone gets the same amount of representation in the Senate, thus the bigger states, have the same power as the smaller states.
Over the years, we have moved to a more democratic system of government. The 17th amendment allowed the people to directly vote for their Senators; this puts more power into the hands of the little people. Primary elections allow for people to decide who runs for president, as opposed to just which of the established candidates gets power.
Essay 2.
There are a number of ways to be involved in the political process. Such as funding a candidate: this means that someone who shares your views will be taking office; and it also means that you don't need to deal with the stress of running a campaign yourself. Another way to involve yourself i politics, is to run yourself: this way, you can actually attain power, and make changes; and also, your funding primarily comes from outside sources.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Center Of American Politics, "government survey"
I can't speak for everyone, but I, for one, wasn't expecting the results I got. The poll said that, while I was in the middle (like I expected) I leaned more conservative than liberal. While I did expect to be found near the middle, I expected to lean more left than right, I thought myself more liberal than conservative.
Although, potentially, there is a possibility that it was impacted by the fact that most of my answers were "knee- jerk" reactions. I answered as my first instinct told me to, but for some questions, after I hit "next" I went into deeper thought about the question, and realized that another answer would actually have been more accurate of my opinion.
I would have gone back and changed it, but, sadly, I did not know how to. Don't judge me.
And, perhaps, like we have learned is possible, the wording of the survey may have affected my answers. While probably not extremely affected, but enough that it all stacked up, and pushed me slightly towards the conservative side.
As I read into the article, I find that in many ways, it makes more and more sense that I am firmly in the center of the political spectrum.
The center and I agree on the topics of government aid, guns, religion, preferences of political functioning, and how involved the government is in our personal affairs.
All things considered, I find myself proud to be a member of the middle. I'm not Democratic, I'm not Republican, I am moderate.
In all honesty, I think we should get our own political party, I'd vote for that candidate.
Although, potentially, there is a possibility that it was impacted by the fact that most of my answers were "knee- jerk" reactions. I answered as my first instinct told me to, but for some questions, after I hit "next" I went into deeper thought about the question, and realized that another answer would actually have been more accurate of my opinion.
I would have gone back and changed it, but, sadly, I did not know how to. Don't judge me.
And, perhaps, like we have learned is possible, the wording of the survey may have affected my answers. While probably not extremely affected, but enough that it all stacked up, and pushed me slightly towards the conservative side.
As I read into the article, I find that in many ways, it makes more and more sense that I am firmly in the center of the political spectrum.
The center and I agree on the topics of government aid, guns, religion, preferences of political functioning, and how involved the government is in our personal affairs.
All things considered, I find myself proud to be a member of the middle. I'm not Democratic, I'm not Republican, I am moderate.
In all honesty, I think we should get our own political party, I'd vote for that candidate.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
The Time I Was On Fire
Once upon a time, I went with my family to my dad's, friend's (Lincoln) big ranch... like... thing. And I was extremely bored, because it was a three day weekend made of nothing but camping, and boredom, so I was looking for anything to do. So of course, I jumped at the opportunity to watch my dad's friend Lincoln use some of the weapons provided by his friend, the federally licensed arms dealer (who sells weapons to law enforcement, and the military) provided. So, I went to a little mini-ravine that he he had on his property.
This is where things started to go bad. Lincoln fired a high-caliber rifle, at a tea kettle filled with military grade explosives, that was duct taped to the top of a propane tank. As one could probably imagine, they did not foresee the likelihood of starting a pretty major fire; well, they had foreseen it, and that was why they had brought three fire extinguishers, but they did not foresee just how large it would be.
So, after almost the entire ravine was a number of pockets of fire. The entirety of the ravine was not on fire, simply a very large number of small fires, I would estimate several hundred small fires. Most of the people there, myself included, decided to assist with putting out the fires. And those who had the fire extinguishers would simply hold back, until someone needed a fire extinguisher for something larger than they could handle themselves; this happened surprisingly often.
Eventually, I tried to stamp out a small fire myself, and I was caught on fire. That's right, on fire. So, I yelled out that I needed a fire extinguisher, and Topher, one of the people using a fire extinguisher (and also the supplier of the explosives, and the rifle) yelled out "Be there in a sec!"
I of course was panicked, and yelled out to him in reply "Dude! MY LEG IS ON FIRE!" After hearing that I was in fact on fire, all three people wielding the fire extinguishers, Lincoln, Topher, and my older brother, Holton, all came sprinting towards me to put out my leg. The fire made it up to my knee, and I lost my favorite pair of pants that day.
This is where things started to go bad. Lincoln fired a high-caliber rifle, at a tea kettle filled with military grade explosives, that was duct taped to the top of a propane tank. As one could probably imagine, they did not foresee the likelihood of starting a pretty major fire; well, they had foreseen it, and that was why they had brought three fire extinguishers, but they did not foresee just how large it would be.
So, after almost the entire ravine was a number of pockets of fire. The entirety of the ravine was not on fire, simply a very large number of small fires, I would estimate several hundred small fires. Most of the people there, myself included, decided to assist with putting out the fires. And those who had the fire extinguishers would simply hold back, until someone needed a fire extinguisher for something larger than they could handle themselves; this happened surprisingly often.
Eventually, I tried to stamp out a small fire myself, and I was caught on fire. That's right, on fire. So, I yelled out that I needed a fire extinguisher, and Topher, one of the people using a fire extinguisher (and also the supplier of the explosives, and the rifle) yelled out "Be there in a sec!"
I of course was panicked, and yelled out to him in reply "Dude! MY LEG IS ON FIRE!" After hearing that I was in fact on fire, all three people wielding the fire extinguishers, Lincoln, Topher, and my older brother, Holton, all came sprinting towards me to put out my leg. The fire made it up to my knee, and I lost my favorite pair of pants that day.
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