final paper

LEARNING ACTIVITY WORKSHEET – Week Four Please review the full assignment prompt and the Week 5 Final Paper instructions located within the classroom and in the POL 201 Course Guide before beginning this assignment. Utilizing the worksheet below, develop detailed paragraphs that focus on the first main point for your final paper. For each section, a minimum of one fully-developed paragraph is required. A fully developed paragraph should be a minimum of 5-7 sentences in length. Each paragraph should include at least one in-text APA citation that provides support for the topic. At least two scholarly sources from the Ashford University library (not including your textbook) with in-text citations utilized within your paragraphs are required. Two new sources should be utilized each week to meet the minimum of eight required sources for the final paper. By finding and supporting your material with these sources each week, you will have the research necessary to construct a strong final paper. For help with writing and citations, please review the handouts and tutorials provided by the Ashford Writing Center. 1. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections: (Interest Groups) A. One strength of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or elections. Interest groups are effective in promoting positive social and political change in the United States and other parts of the world. Interest groups have been formed to solve civic problems, put in place social relationships, and speak for a nation’s economic or political interests (Bardes, Shelley & Schmidt, 2010). Unlike political parties, interest groups are normally spawned by mass social movements. These movements represent the demands set by a substantial portion or segment of the entire American population for change in the political, economic and social system. Interest groups have promoted social movements in America for a long time. These movements are always the first expressions of latent dissatisfaction with the existing system. Therefore, interest groups may be the authentic voice of weaker or oppressed groups in the society that do not have the means or standing to organize themselves. Therefore, interest groups give them a voice to be heard. B. One weakness of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or elections. One of the biggest weaknesses of interest groups is that they are often inclined towards narrow economic interests. For instance, there are few lobbyists and pressure groups that support consumers but most support producers (Farber & Frickey, 2010). Critics also argue that such groups have little support for conventional wisdom, since they are always more inclined towards politics and the electoral process than other issues that affect the society such as - 1 - 1 2 1. Unlike political parties, interest groups are normally spawned by mass social movements. These movements represent the demands set by a substantial portion or segment of the entire American population for change in the political, economic and social system. Interest groups have promoted social movements in America for a long time. These movements are always the first expressions of latent dissatisfaction with the existing system. Therefore, interest groups may be the authentic voice of weaker or oppressed groups in the society that do not have the means or standing to organize themselves. Therefore, interest groups give them a voice to be heard. Margaret, Is this also drawing from the Bardes et al. text? If so, the text should be cited. [Kevin Eirich] 2. Critics Who are these critics? [Kevin Eirich] economic problems. Furthermore, these groups are not often active on both sides of an issue. One group may be formed solely to promote human rights while another revolves around support for immigrants and minority groups in the United States (Farber & Frickey, 2010). Therefore, their focus on few issues makes them lack regard to the broader issues that affect the America society. C. One option to accentuate the positive impact of the strength discussed above. One of the ways in which interest groups can improve their efforts to promote positive social and political change is to advocate for removal of income inequality. One example of these interest groups is the Economic Policy Institute, which have been encouraging open discussions about economic policies that support low- and middle-income citizens in the United States. These groups often criticize the government’s approach to economic development. Interest groups play a key role in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor by lobbying for policy change. Some of the major topical issues that affect ordinary citizens include taxation policies. In this respect, interest groups sometimes promote tax cuts for low and middle-income citizens. For instance, some advocate for reduction in corporate taxes, while others advocate for introduction of policies that support access to health care for all Americans. Debates on minimum wage increments also form part of interest groups’ effort to promote an equitable society. In this respect, some interest groups advocate for the increase in minimum wage as an effort to remove high number of people form abject poverty. D. One option to lessen the negative impact of the weakness discussed above. One of the negative impacts of interest groups is that most focus on one area of social, political, and economic development. In so doing, they minimize their developmental scope such that they may ignore other key issues that are of serious concern to the American society but are not within their scope. For instance, one interest group that promotes social equality in the United States may be disinterested in immigration policy or other serious problems such as torture of terrorist suspects or child labor. To address this concern, interest groups should broaden their scope so that they can deal with other equally important issues that affect the society but have been given little interest. 2. Thesis Statement - 2 - 1 2 3 1. society. Why, specifically, is narrow focus a weakness, Margaret? Isn't focusing on a narrow, specific issue or issue area provide clarity and purpose to the groups? [Kevin Eirich] 2. can improve their efforts to promote positive social and political change is to advocate for removal of income inequality. Not all groups are in advocacy on such an issue. Why, for instance, would the National Rifle Association - a large interest group - care about income inequality? Given their focus on the 2nd Amendment, I think it wouldn't benefit the NRA, for example, to focus on such an issue. [Kevin Eirich] 3. To address this concern, interest groups should broaden their scope so that they can deal with other equally important issues that affect the society but have been given little interest. Again, why should they do this? For instance, why should a large group like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) spend their resources on issues which don't affect their members? I think you have a nice sentiment here, Margaret, but you haven't convinced me why groups should do what you suggest or even if it's wise for them to do what you suggest. I encourage you to provide reasons, with evidence, why what you suggest is a wise strategy for groups with limited resources in your final paper. [Kevin Eirich] Provide a thesis statement for the final paper. It is very important that the statement focuses on the final paper and not only on the topic discussed above. The thesis statement should be a concise statement of 25 words or less that clearly identifies the main argument, theme, and purpose for the final paper. There are many parts that are essential to our government and how it operates, but there are also many parts that should be re-evaluated to better our country and many suggestions and solutions that can better our government and make our country through our government the best it can be. 3. Reference List (utilizing full APA citations) Bardes, B., Shelley, M., & Schmidt, S. (2010). American government and politics today: the essentials . Boston: Cengage Learning. Farber, D. A., & Frickey, P. P. (2010). Law and public choice: a critical introduction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. - 3 -