Elements That Influence State Government Paper
Elements that Influence (GA) State Government
Willis Moody
State and Local Political Processes/POL 215
September 26, 2011
Elements that Influence State Government Politicians are elected because of the issues they stand for; however, interest groups hold or weaken their agenda once they have been elected. Interest groups make good use of every available resource when sponsoring or overpowering their concern. These interest groups are composed of a body of voters with a stake in major or minor supported issues, and they make known the matter they are fighting for or against. By never giving up on their arguments and concerns, interest groups will make public demonstrations or displays. This persistence continues until they accomplish whatever the cause is that they are participating in.
American Association of Retired Persons The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is an interest group, which has an influence on voting from a huge senior voting population, election discussions, and voter guides.
History …show more content…
After establishing the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) in 1947, Dr.
Ethel Percy Andrus began the AARP in 1958 (AARP, 2011). This organization has matured over the years and rumors to have around 30 million members and more than four thousand chapters nationwide. From its beginning in 1958, they considerably have changed and developed in reaction to society changes while remaining dedicated to its original philosophy. Their three main philosophies promote individuality, self-esteem, and purpose for senior citizens while improving their way of life, and to encourage “To serve, not be served” (AARP, 2011). By performing studies on elderly requirements, the economy, and a huge volunteer network thousands are influenced to become members on a yearly basis. The AARP is oldest recognized organization focused entirely on senior
citizens.
Voter Tools Influencing voters about policies is a key way the AARP induces policy, in the manner of election forums and distributing voter guides to its members. With constant election forum discussions that inform voters about the candidate and his or her stance. These forums, unify ideas, and assist AARP members when casting their votes at the polls. Other tools used are voter guides advertisement and media. The voter guides detail their representative’s political accounts and the effect they will have on the elderly. In the past advertising through political events, by sponsoring nationally televised political events was the method of advocacy. When sponsoring the debates it permits them to expand their point to the voters using infomercials throughout pauses in the debate. The majority of the AARP are communicated through twenty-second commercial pieces, which summarize their thinking. If there were no media political, decision-making would have less of an impact from the AARP. Through every practice, this allows them to persuade their voters, which sequentially changes the policy-making procedure on their behalf.
Politics
With them registered as a nonprofit organization, they are an unlikely interest group. Though similar to other groups, they are a policy specialist with a constricted view. The AARP keeps track of the local and national legislation of interest to their members. The main objective of the AARP is to obtain optimistic legislative results in Congress. With their enormous size and authority, they are a significant interest group advocating elderly interest. AARP focuses their attention on policy concerns such as tax reform, Medicare, long-term care, campaign finance reform, and social security. Big government is essential to the welfare of seniors, is the belief of AARP (Mehren & Rosenblatt, 1995). The AARP clearly encourages big government results that help seniors, though President Bill Clinton declared in his 1996 State of the Union that the "era of big government is over” (Curry, 2005). The AARP has come under fire from the Republican controlled Congress while attempting to pass favorable legislation, recently. Former Senator Alan K. Simpson from the state of Wyoming is questioning whether their status should remain the same or change. He suggests they are milking privileges of the Social Security Commission and serve no purpose (Lytle, 2010).
Conclusion
The AARP has effectively sustained existing programs for retired people; thus far, it has been not capable of get novel plans approved that would significantly modify the system. Senior citizens are no longer looked at as they were near the beginning of the twentieth century; instead, senior citizens are looked at as thriving members of the public that are no longer reliant on an outside institution for their wellbeing.
Reference
AARP. (2011, September 21). AARP History. Retrieved from AARP: http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/info-2009/History.html
Curry, T. (2005, September 7). Will Congress rethink commitments and costs? Retrieved from MSNBC.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9232277/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/will-congress-rethink-commitments-costs/
Lytle, T. (2010, September 2). Simpson's social security outburst may upend fiscal commission. Retrieved from AARP: http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-09-2010/simpsons_social_security_outburst_may_upend_fiscal_commissio
n_.html?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-WOR-SOC&HBX_PK=alan_simpson&360cid=SI_166879880_6659203021_1
Mehren, E., & Rosenblatt, R. A. (1995, August 22). COLUMN ONE : For AARP, a Reversal of Fortune : The 31.5-million-member seniors' group sailed through the '80s. Its clout has faded with a GOP Congress intent on balancing the budget. Looming is Medicare fight. Retrieved from Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-22/news/mn-37721_1_aarp-members/3
Willis Moody
State and Local Political Processes/POL 215
September 26, 2011
Elements that Influence State Government Politicians are elected because of the issues they stand for; however, interest groups hold or weaken their agenda once they have been elected. Interest groups make good use of every available resource when sponsoring or overpowering their concern. These interest groups are composed of a body of voters with a stake in major or minor supported issues, and they make known the matter they are fighting for or against. By never giving up on their arguments and concerns, interest groups will make public demonstrations or displays. This persistence continues until they accomplish whatever the cause is that they are participating in.
American Association of Retired Persons The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is an interest group, which has an influence on voting from a huge senior voting population, election discussions, and voter guides.
History …show more content…
After establishing the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) in 1947, Dr.
Ethel Percy Andrus began the AARP in 1958 (AARP, 2011). This organization has matured over the years and rumors to have around 30 million members and more than four thousand chapters nationwide. From its beginning in 1958, they considerably have changed and developed in reaction to society changes while remaining dedicated to its original philosophy. Their three main philosophies promote individuality, self-esteem, and purpose for senior citizens while improving their way of life, and to encourage “To serve, not be served” (AARP, 2011). By performing studies on elderly requirements, the economy, and a huge volunteer network thousands are influenced to become members on a yearly basis. The AARP is oldest recognized organization focused entirely on senior
citizens.
Voter Tools Influencing voters about policies is a key way the AARP induces policy, in the manner of election forums and distributing voter guides to its members. With constant election forum discussions that inform voters about the candidate and his or her stance. These forums, unify ideas, and assist AARP members when casting their votes at the polls. Other tools used are voter guides advertisement and media. The voter guides detail their representative’s political accounts and the effect they will have on the elderly. In the past advertising through political events, by sponsoring nationally televised political events was the method of advocacy. When sponsoring the debates it permits them to expand their point to the voters using infomercials throughout pauses in the debate. The majority of the AARP are communicated through twenty-second commercial pieces, which summarize their thinking. If there were no media political, decision-making would have less of an impact from the AARP. Through every practice, this allows them to persuade their voters, which sequentially changes the policy-making procedure on their behalf.
Politics
With them registered as a nonprofit organization, they are an unlikely interest group. Though similar to other groups, they are a policy specialist with a constricted view. The AARP keeps track of the local and national legislation of interest to their members. The main objective of the AARP is to obtain optimistic legislative results in Congress. With their enormous size and authority, they are a significant interest group advocating elderly interest. AARP focuses their attention on policy concerns such as tax reform, Medicare, long-term care, campaign finance reform, and social security. Big government is essential to the welfare of seniors, is the belief of AARP (Mehren & Rosenblatt, 1995). The AARP clearly encourages big government results that help seniors, though President Bill Clinton declared in his 1996 State of the Union that the "era of big government is over” (Curry, 2005). The AARP has come under fire from the Republican controlled Congress while attempting to pass favorable legislation, recently. Former Senator Alan K. Simpson from the state of Wyoming is questioning whether their status should remain the same or change. He suggests they are milking privileges of the Social Security Commission and serve no purpose (Lytle, 2010).
Conclusion
The AARP has effectively sustained existing programs for retired people; thus far, it has been not capable of get novel plans approved that would significantly modify the system. Senior citizens are no longer looked at as they were near the beginning of the twentieth century; instead, senior citizens are looked at as thriving members of the public that are no longer reliant on an outside institution for their wellbeing.
Reference
AARP. (2011, September 21). AARP History. Retrieved from AARP: http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/info-2009/History.html
Curry, T. (2005, September 7). Will Congress rethink commitments and costs? Retrieved from MSNBC.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9232277/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/will-congress-rethink-commitments-costs/
Lytle, T. (2010, September 2). Simpson's social security outburst may upend fiscal commission. Retrieved from AARP: http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-09-2010/simpsons_social_security_outburst_may_upend_fiscal_commissio
n_.html?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-WOR-SOC&HBX_PK=alan_simpson&360cid=SI_166879880_6659203021_1
Mehren, E., & Rosenblatt, R. A. (1995, August 22). COLUMN ONE : For AARP, a Reversal of Fortune : The 31.5-million-member seniors' group sailed through the '80s. Its clout has faded with a GOP Congress intent on balancing the budget. Looming is Medicare fight. Retrieved from Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-22/news/mn-37721_1_aarp-members/3