Web Critique 8

Website Name: Vote Smart www.votesmart.org
Operated By:  Center for National Independence in Politics
Funded By:  Contributions/Donations

            Project Vote Smart is a pretty large-scale organization which exists to inform voters of the views of politicians so that they don’t have to rely on emotional and manipulative campaigning tactics that fail to provide important information to voters.  This organization’s website is very user-friendly. On the home page, there is a prominent video player providing an introduction to the organization, a summary of its services, and a tutorial for the website.  The website has two different interactive tools for voters. One called VoteEasy helps you decide who to vote for in an upcoming election, and the other called Political Galaxy gives a visually appealing avenue for finding information on government leaders searchable by ZIP Code or by name.  I wish that more local politicians were included on the Political Galaxy and VoteEasy. Also, it was a bit annoying that there was no way to easily navigate back to the main site from Political Galaxy. Even hitting the back button did not take me back to the main site. One unique thing about this organization is that they have a phone number you can call at which a researcher will be available to instantly look up information for you. Visitors to the website can also register for myVoteSmart which lets you track changes or additional information on politicians of your choice. It would be helpful if there was actually some information on local officials. It seems that most effort is focused on federal leaders, understandably, however.  There is also a great amount of information for voters available through several links at the bottom of the home page. Something worth noting on a more critical side, is that there are many pop up requests for help (monetary, volunteer, etc.) while on the website. Since almost 95% of their revenue is generated from donations, it is necessary that they request monetary donations and volunteer help. Some site visitors may find this annoying, though. It didn’t really bother me or impede my viewing of the site. 

Discussion 8

Prompt: 
What five (or more) important traits or qualities do you want your elected representatives to have?  

My response: 

Five important traits I want my elected representatives to have:

(1) Track record of fiscal responsibility

(2) Love of our country and our people

(3) Pro-life/pro-woman

(4) Pro-education

(5) Works well to coordinate efforts regardless of partisan affiliation

(6) Makes sensible decisions

(7) Not capricious; stands firmly on principles

Discussion 6

Prompt: How should public elections be run?

My response:

I have seen a lot of dissent about the electoral college. Many think that elections should be determined by popular vote alone. However, I think that the general populace has proven that it isn't willing to put in the time required to study each candidate and the issues thoroughly enough to make a good decision. The general public is very easily swayed by media and pressure from others. For the presidential election, the electoral college is an attempt to compromise between general election and representatives electing the president. However the electors in the electoral college nearly always vote according to party lines since they are largely chosen by political party. I honestly feel okay about the technical way our elections are run because I think that they do strike a needed balance. I wish however that it were more clear or publicized widely who the electors are and how they were determined to be in that position. I also wish there were more propositions and referendums on big issues.

Web Critique 6

Website Name: Federal Election Commission www.fec.gov (Links to an external site.)
Operated By:  The Federal Election Commission
Funded By:  U.S. Government, allocated by Congress

The website of the Federal Election Commission is a great resource to anyone involved in elections: candidates, treasurers, organizations, attorneys, parties, donors, and more. Even the average citizen can gain some helpful information from the FEC website. For instance, the Quick Answers page offered me helpful information about election finance that I wasn’t aware of, and the library page (located at the bottom of the site) offered easy access to older publications. They have pretty full disclosure of financial matters all right there on their website. I felt that the FEC does help those closest involved with election finances by having all of this information available and easily accessible online. Especially for treasurers, they have a specific tips section to help them fulfill their legal obligations. I feel that one good addition may be to have a learning section for curious citizens. It was all very confusing for me, as I have little experience with organizational or election finances. If they truly want to offer full disclosure, it may be helpful to have a small part of their site devoted to helping people understand the basics of what they are presenting on their website.  They do have in their Press section, a tutorial for reporters to use the website, however something geared toward informing citizens would be great as well. 

Web Critique 5

Website Name: Rock the Vote, www.rockthevote.com (Links to an external site.)
Operated By:  Rock the Vote, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Funded By:  Donations and fundraising

Rock the Vote is an organization whose goal is to equip the youth of America to vote. The website gets right to this the moment you arrive by popping up a dialog box allowing visitors to immediately and easily to register to vote over the Internet. The website is full of helpful information for people who may be confused and overwhelmed by the process of voting. Along with this information, there are pages on the site for youth to contact their local representatives and also a page with polling and research data. The website has a page where visitors can request the Rock the Vote Democracy Class can come to their school. The organization is non-partisan and I noticed looking at their Twitter feed a mix of both political parties being represented. The website makes good use of celebrity supporters to garner rapport with young visitors to the website. There are pictures of celebrities all over the site, lists of celebrity supporters, and ongoing use of celebrity support in social media streams.  The site has easy linkage to Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media, and a Tumblr blog. There is also a store selling items to help young people “represent” Rock the Vote to their peers. There are many ways offered to get involved from Washington D.C. internships, hosting an event, volunteering, or even just helping “Spread the Word”, as is the name of a particular page on the site with several options of how to spread the word. The very best thing about this site is how it demystifies voting for young Americans and places knowledge about voting at their fingertips in an easy navigable, attractive website.

Discussion 5

Prompt: When has unconventional participation been successful in bringing about political change in U.S. history? Are those instances viewed differently in hindsight than they were at the time? Why?

I think that the reason that unconventional participation is so successful in bringing about political change is its ability to draw public attention. The media usually covers these occurrences and brings the issues to public attention. Then, citizens will make a choice about the issue.  A major issue that was brought further to the light through unconventional participation is the Selma march in 1965. The awful governmental response to the demonstration only further alerted the public to the problem. Then, pressure has been continually placed upon politicians about civil rights, even to this day.  Looking back upon the Selma demonstration, however, there has been a huge change in climate for blacks, and the demonstration is now viewed solemnly as a day when those facing voting right discrimination stood up and were successful in awakening the nation to the civil rights issue. Now the attitude of most black and white people alike is a gladness that change has occurred for those oppressed in our country. This change is a direct result of the attention brought to the issue by the numerous forms of conventional and unconventional participation performed in the past. If no one were to speak up, nothing would have changed.  

Instructor's Notes-Voting and Political Parties

Instructor Notes for Chapters 7 and 8 - Participation and Voting and Political Parties

Each of the chapters in the textbook contain just the basics about the topics covered when actually political scientists devote their entire careers to the study of each individual aspect of our political system.  This is a very interesting time in our country to be studying these two topics as we are in the midst of an important election campaign. During the study of the media in the last chapter, you should have noted the activity of the political parties and the changes that have been made in voting laws in a number of states. These laws will undoubtedly affect voter participation for the upcoming election. As you study these chapters and you learn of the history of the election process in the USA you will have a better understanding of current events affecting our voting process.

A very recent development highlights concerns expressed by a great number of American citizens and now the international community. " US election system criticised over finance rules and voting restrictions Commission led by Kofi Annan says the rise of Super Pacs and voter ID laws has 'shaken citizen confidence' in elections." Read this story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/14/us-election-campaign-finance-voting (Links to an external site.)

DC Douglas' "Why #OccupyWallStreet? 4 Reasons."   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wK1MOMKZ8BI#! (Links to an external site.)

Chapter 8 gives us a brief history of political parties and their evolution through the years. The parties are still in the process of evolving. It mentions the Tea Party that has become part of the Republican Party. Since the textbook was written another movement has been formed called the Occupy Movement. Occupy does not align itself with either political party. “Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #ows is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to fight back against the richest 1% of people that are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.” http://occupywallst.org/about/ (Links to an external site.) There is an Occupy Group that meets regularly here in Wichita.This week has a 50-point selftest with 50 questions to assist you in learning the basics of Participation and Voting and Political Parties

Protesters unveil a banner at the Lincoln Memorial in 2010 to protest the Citizens United ruling. The Annan report criticises the ruling for shaking Americans' confidence in the political process.
Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images