Unit 4

Question 1

What amounted to a system of Pluralism

Answer 1

American’s affiliation with a variable number of interest groups

Question 2

Why did the Colonists create associations?

Answer 2

for Collective Benefit

Question 3

What challange did “individualism” create

Answer 3

the need for people to find a way to fix problems they couldn’t fix be theirseelves.

Question 4

Who founded the first association and what was it?

Answer 4

Benjamin Franklin, Union Fire Company

Question 5

What did Tocqueville refer to clubs as

Answer 5

Great schools, free of charge to learn the general theory of associations.

Question 6

What as a system of pluralism

Answer 6

an affiliation with a variable number of groups whose net effect is considered to be the moderation of individual American. rulting in the entire politica system.

Question 7

Why do interest groups exist

Answer 7

to influence government.

Question 8

What do interest groups do?

Answer 8

Seek to affect public policy.

Question 9

Do interest groups typically focus on all policies?

Answer 9

No they focus on a single area, but they also are interested in other groups whose interest may affect theirs.

Question 10

What is the terms of these interst groups

Answer 10

Special or single-interest groups.

Question 11

Are single-interest groups the same as a political party? Why?

Answer 11

no, because POLITICAL PARTIES generally seek to mold police in ALL areas.

Question 12

Why does DEMOCRACY explain the existence of interest groups?

Answer 12

Democratic governments are set up to listen to public input, and an organized group is more easily hear than a scattered collection of individuals.

Question 13

What are other reasons for interest groups in a democracy?

Answer 13

Diversity and Division. Because the population doesnt have the same beliefs and our government is fragmented.

Question 14

Why do clubs/associations originate

Answer 14

Because of their ‘founders’ perception of self-interest.

Question 15

what are 3 access point for interest groups to contact?

Answer 15

1. Lobbying Congress
2. Lobbying executive agencies for favorable regulations
3. The legal system to affect laws, regulations and their implementation.

Question 16

Is the access persued on Local, State or Federal levels?

Answer 16

Yes, all three.

Question 17

What are reasons that bring people to joins these clubs and associations?

Answer 17

1. material benefit, 2. Feel good about themselves 3.. For employment 4. to promote the well-being of their industry, or other common interest. 5. for change in public policy to promote to benefit the individual or a society they prefer.

Question 18

What is the KEY to these special interest groups gaining this attention of the governement? How?

Answer 18

ORGANIZATION. It seperates INTERESTS from INTEREST GROUPS. Analogy: A chorus VS a crowd.

Question 19

What is meant by Organization,

Answer 19

Structure, consisting basically of LEADERSHIP and MEMBERSHIP.

Question 20

What does leadership provide?

Answer 20

Direction, for the group’s activities.

Question 21

What Membership provide?

Answer 21

mainly financing and popular support, but may also provide some activity like picketing or calling government officials.

Question 22

What is the primary need for an organization to achieve success?

Answer 22

SOUND FINANCIAL STRUCTURE.

Question 23

Where do these organizations resource for funds?

Answer 23

MEMBERSHIP DUES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS AND THINK TANKS, AND GEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, FOR RESEARCH OR PROJECT GRANTS.

Question 24

What allows a group to function effectively?

Answer 24

SUPPORT

Question 25

As these organizations become larger, what problems arise?

Answer 25

The larger the group becomes or the broader their interest, the more difficult it is to organize, collect resoureces and take action.

Question 26

What is the biggest challange groups pursuing COLLECTIVE or PUBLIC GOODS? (Consumer, Enviornmental, and issue groups)

Answer 26

FREE-Rider Problem. and BUILDING SUPPORT

Question 27

Why is FREE-RIDER a problem?

Answer 27

Because when these groups persue ‘collective or public good, the results do not only benefit those who contributed either time or recourses. So, it encourages people to be less involved, and THE LACK OF ACTION is the problem AS WELL AS LACK ON INCENTIVE.

Question 28

How do Interest groups overcome the problem of benefits to those who don’t contribute?

Answer 28

They can have “selective incentives” or “selective benefits” such as T-shirts, trips, discounts to activities and travel, subscriptions, tickets to outside events.

Question 29

What is the main mis-conception about charitable groups?

Answer 29

That they redistribute wealth from generous ‘haves” to appreciative ‘have-nots?

Question 30

How do these groups perpetuate the idea of “democracy”?

Answer 30

The members learn to make proposals, debate them, vote on them and abide by the results. So, they provide a “training ground” for democratic participation.

Question 31

What kind of individuals rise to the top of organizations and assume control?

Answer 31

Those with charisma, strength, leadership ability, intelligence, wealth and access to influential individuals, etc.

Question 32

So, if wealth and access to wealthy are key traits, does this affect what the interests are of the organization?

Answer 32

Of course, their interests will be aligned with the interests of the wealthy and corporations?

Question 33

What kind of groups fall in this category?

Answer 33

Political parties, ideological groups, election candidates, campaing committees.

Question 34

So, what is the negative effect of these groups?

Answer 34

They constantly solicit for dues and donations from people of “modest means” by using scare tactics, or words to alarm and inflame.

Question 35

What group is most vunerable to this type of shrewed fundraising?

Answer 35

The elderly. but it also hurts lower middle class and middle class people too because of their limits funds.

Question 36

What is most heinous of this collection ctivity?a

Answer 36

First, these groups are not really doing any activity that helps lower or middle class, and secondly, the funds serve more to help the managers prosper than whatever activity they are supporting.

Question 37

Is there a way to find out what these organizations are focused on?

Answer 37

Yes, through The U.S. Senate Office of Public Records, an organization called OPENSECRETS.ORG.

Question 38

What is the pharse used to describe the misconception of what these organizations are actually doing and what the general public think they are doing?

Answer 38

A divergence between Mythology and reality.

Question 39

Is there a section of these organizations that involved the widest misconception?

Answer 39

Yes, the NON-PROFIT Sector.

Question 40

Of the 3examples did the assigment give to particular groups? (Example one)

Answer 40

United Way of America, booking first class tickets, limos, huge salary. The money they were begging for was going for that purpose.

Question 41

Of the 3 examples, explain the second one.

Answer 41

Muscular Dystrophy Association, Labor Day weekend, got free airtime for 24 hours. Show kept creeping up the amount of donations towards $60 million, when the $60 million was already raised beofer they went on air. This was done to encourage excitement to raise more money.

Question 42

Of the 3 examples, explain the third one.

Answer 42

Charties and religious organizations, teleevangelists. Pat Robertson manipulated countless ederly people to provide their bankaccount #, so they can debit their accounts month. usually discovered when they die.

Question 43

When a group of journalists and academic researchers conducted a study to determina just how gullible Americans were with charties what did they find.

Answer 43

The set up in front of a store with seperate pots for several fake charties. People walked past and dumped funds in charties that didn’t even exist.

Question 44

What does NON-PROFIT Mean?

Answer 44

It means there are no owners of the corporation that are seeking to make a profit. Usually a business MUST make a profit, according to the IRS.

Question 45

What name do economists give to the Nonprofit section?

Answer 45

THE ‘THIRD SECTOR”

Question 46

So, what is A divergence between Mythology and reality.

Answer 46

They promote that they are collecting to help the poor and sick. How much of what they collect is circumspect, because they are formidable economic engines.

Question 47

So, what does ‘formidable economic engine really mean?

Answer 47

They accounted ofr 5% of the GDP, 8% of the economy’s wages, and 10% of jobs.

Question 48

So if they dont make money, then what happens if they reach their ‘goals”? Do they stop collecting or give the money back?

Answer 48

No, it just calls this money “SURPLUS” and that money goes to lavish salarlies, purchase of realestate, benefits to the elite, which has nothing to do with helping the poor or sick.

Question 49

So, how is this harmful?

Answer 49

the nonprofit sector inconspicuously redistributes wealth from the working class to the wealthy with surprising frequency, as it does when it collects a donation

Question 50

What are Section 501(c)(3) organizations.

Answer 50

Organizations or foundations that can take advantage of a special allowance federal tax exemption. specifically those that are considered public charities, private foundations or private operating foundations.

Question 51

And how is that hurtful to lower and middle class?

Answer 51

When one makes a donation to this type of charity, you are able to reduce your taxes by the amount of the contibution. so that takes money from the public treasurey that funds programs for the needy.

Question 52

How does it help the wealthy?

Answer 52

Contributions made to something like to Harvard, go to the university’s endowment. They have accululated $25 Billion. Which supports progams for the donars wealthy children who attend Harvard.

Question 53

So it is better to be a MEMBER instead of just dontating? Then, I can be a part of what they do with their ‘surplus’

Answer 53

Well, Membership is usually meangingless. You send the money, they send a membership card. You have no say so over what the group does.

Question 54

In what other ways would a non-profit hurt people of business?

Answer 54

Girlscout cookies, they sell $700 Million, they pay no tax, and they pay no salary. A company like Kleeber is a competitor, they pay both tax and salaries. How is this fair?