Interest group classwork

a) The main goal of interest groups is to see their interests adopted and protected by the federal government.

b) The major goal of political parties is to get their candidate nominated and elected to office.

c) Interest groups help political parties by stressing issues that are important to the public so that officials can know what topics to focus on, and raising awareness in the public.

d) By raising awareness in the public, interest groups can gain more support for their goal, as well as more widely publicize their goal so that it becomes a larger issue in politics than it might have been before.

1) Collective Good- Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member

Free-Rider Problem- When individuals do not participate in helping reach the goal of the interest group, and just sit back and enjoy the benefits that the members of the interest group work hard to receive.

Selective Benefits- Benefits only provided to people whose resources and incomes fall below a prescribed level.

2) a.  American Marijuana Association (AMA)
b. Fully legalizing marijuana in Virginia
c. The country with the money it can gain from taxing marijuana, people with health issues, potheads
d. Legal marijuana for anyone over 21
e.
f. My group will send petitions around the state advocating the legalization of marijuana, and will then present this to the state legislature. My group will also send a polling survey around the state to see what percentage of the state is in favor of the legalization of marijuana.

E4

• Maine, Senate
• Angus King-Independent; Charlie Summers-Republican
• Angus King    
• Charlie Summers
• poll results: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/me/maine_senate_summers_vs_dill_vs_king-3242.html
• Issues- Taxes- King wants to raise some; Gov spending- Summers wants to cut it
• Strategies- Summers making King look bad by pointing out that King went against his word by creating a negative ad toward his opponent when he pledged not to make negative ads.
• "I think people are tired of politicians who’ll say one thing and do another,”-Summers. Makes Summers look like a unique politician, one who can be trusted by the people.
• Ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4a3blFhcDo -Negative ad by Summers who claimed King was the only one to make a negative ad out of the 3 candidates.

E2
1. huffingtonpost.com

2. I'd say that this site is mostly opinion. ex.) "Which is why it's important to discuss with kids, even those too young to yet understand all the specific policy points or platforms, why politics matters." (Drexler) While this statement is most likely true, i would not call it a fact, it is more of her personal belief. 

3. A good amount of this site is fact as well because it talks about political stories. ex.) "Three legalization initiatives on state ballots are drawing support from voters, newspapers, civic groups, celebrities and even some members of law enforcement." (Angell)
4. This site is mostly built off of other peoples blogs.
5. The majority of the bloggers on this site seem to be Democratic, usually talking against Romney and in support of Obama.
6. This site could influence the American public by enlightening them on current political issues and more specifically the effect these issues have on individuals. Many individuals who are well informed on politics provide their opinion on what's going on in the presidential race, and viewers can gain information on how other people are responding to the candidates' platforms to give them something to reflect on.