Hypothetical Situation?

Question

As a student you are interested in increasing the amount of federal financial aid to all college students. How would you hope to influence the actions of Congress and the Executive branch to change federal financial aid policy and funding? What are the various mechanisms by which you might make your views known? In other words, in what ways do citizens influence the political process? Which mechanism would be most effective? Why? What does your answer say about the ability of citizens to initiate change in America's democracy?

Answer 1

1. Rent an office on "K" Street in Washington D.C.
2. Form a Political Action Committee to donate funds to the re-election campaigns of the Senate and the House members.
3. Have some representative from your organization show up to testify at every committee and sub-committee hearing on the topic.
4. Create a few "sound bites" to give to the electronic media after the hearing designed to scare people into thinking that something is wrong.
5. Take that same "dog and pony show" onto cable TV news outlets and do the same thing.
6. Call your critics unenlightened and heartless about educating our young.
That's how the National Education Association and others do it now.

Answer 2

In a true democracy, the power is with the people to make change by majority rule. Many people in the United States make the mistake in that they beieve we live in a democracy. We actually live in a Republic, where we have eleted officials to make decisions based on what they think will benefit the most of their consitutents.

What to do to change current policies, write letters to your elected officials, stage protests, and speak your mind.

But the best way to get the attention of our current government is with a huge bucket of money.
Only well funded causes (business) with extremely deep pockets seem able to influence the actions of our President, and the legislative branch. These organizations pour millions of dollars into political campaigns, fund raisers, offer extravagent 'workshop' vaccations and provide job opportunities to our 'officials' should they get voted out.

With the corrupt influence of money and power, you can even start a war.

"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely"