Money To Political Parties example essay topic

The government system presently existing in the United States is elitism. An elitism paves the way for those who are powerful; those who have money. In today's society, wealthy individuals, corporations, and businesses influence and basically control government. Elitism is most commonly seen through the country's political matters. Those in power donate their to governmental candidates and officials, and their political parties.

This contribution of money takes place both legally and illegally as will be discussed later in this essay. The most important concept in elitism is that the general public does not benefit. Instead, the general public is actually discouraged to participate in today's politics. The mass media, controlled by wealthy corporations, fails to inform the public the reality of today's society. In contrast, due to negative advertising and news coverage, voters "express hesitancy and a lack of enthusiasm" (Stowitts 190).

Anti federalists branded Federalists as "elitist", therefore resulting in the creation of political parties (Stowitts 136). Unfortunately, today, political parties have faltered into this "elitist" role. Political Parties are intended to represent "like-minded people to congregate for political purposes" (Stowitts 136). In recent years, as seen during election time, these "like-minded" people are those who donate large sums of money to political parties.

"Political parties have begun to reassert themselves in the campaign process by virtue of their fundraising skills and issue advocacy advertising" (Wayne 79). As a result of Buckley vs. Valeo, individuals are able to contribute their personal funds to political parties for campaign purposes (Reader 113). This allows the wealthy businessmen, lawyers, and corporations to influence the parties because they are the ones funding them. The candidate of the winning party tries to satisfy the wants and needs of those who are financially supporting them. An example of this elitist power over political parties is shown in the 2000 Presidential Elections. Republican candidate George W. Bush, who spent around 3 billion dollars on his campaign, proposed a 6% tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, but had no plan to extend medical benefits for the 44 million Americans who did not have basic care".

[Political] advertisements use montage, music, and symbolism to create an entire mood" (Stowitts 222). Today, candidates spend millions of dollars of their campaign accounts to create political advertisements to be shown on local and cable networks. These advertisements, such as those seen in the class video, depict negative images of candidates, the campaign they are running, and their political party. "It turns off voters; it makes them more cynical about the candidates by emphasizing their negative personal characteristics to which those who are the target of the ads would strongly object" (Wayne 31). Despite the increasing amounts of money spent on advertisements, they have contributed to the decline in voter turn out. "The news media in the United States are different from the media in other countries in that they are almost all private, for-profit corporate enterprises.

This means that one of their principal functions is to make money for those who own them" (Stowitts 206). Today, the mass media includes books, magazines, newspapers, television, radio, records, motion pictures, and the internet. As noted in the Entertainment vs. Entertainment video, the media is guilty of using controversial issues such as sex, drugs, tragedy, violence, and political scandal to increase their audiences and, of course, their profits. The text describes the job of the press, "to make its own decisions about what is important for the country" (Stowitts 215). But who is responsible for issuing this information? Big corporations are the ones who have the final say in what information the public is given.

Their main concern is not to keep the public informed, instead it is to keep the public interested, therefore subscribing, watching, listening, and purchasing. An example of this takes place in political news. Typically, political figures receive negative coverage by the news media. Talk shows, such as on CNN, then produce hour-long specials featuring various political experts who share their own opinions on these negative political matters. Wealthy corporations are also guilty of using their popular media forms, The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, Oprah, People Magazine, Star, etc... as tools to express certain political views. These powerful corporations know that the public is easily influenced by the opinions of those they refer to almost daily.

Therefore the public is being deceived when they think they are merely being informed. In reality they are being baited by what wealthy and powerful corporations want them to know. Currently in the Unites States we have "a public that is largely uninterested, uninformed, and non participatory" (Schultz Packet). It is not a surprise that the public in uninterested due mainly to the poor campaign strategies set forth. Years ago, when television did not exist, candidates made a stronger effort to go out and interact with voters. "Television has become the principle link between the candidates and the voters" (Stowitts 153).

Obviously it has proved to be a poor link. Today, voters are not properly informed due to short TV debates, negative political advertisements, talk shows, magazines, etc... "As the public sees it, the politicians, parties, and special interest groups are inextricably bound together in this money game. Politicians get elected, their parties gain influence; and special interests obtain the public policy they desire. The only losers are the general public and its interests" (Wayne 125).

This feeling causes voters to loose belief in the difference they can make with their single vote. Every election passing attracts less and less voters. Today's voters are wealthy, educated, older, have extreme views, and can potentially profit in the outcome of an election (packet, Wayne Chap. 2). These characteristics provide a limited group of voters who usually have agendas they can push through with voting. Such as wealthy Americans who are interested in tax cuts and wealthy corporations who wish to expand their business.

Older voters, who are interested in social security, also contribute significantly to the voting population. Younger generations feel as if they are not important and powerful enough for government to provide for their needs. "They [interest groups] shape policy outcomes through representation of their members, providing an avenue of participation, education, agenda, setting, and monitoring of government programs" (Stowitts 231). These are among the most important roles of interest groups in the United States.

The most powerful interest groups are the ones which have the most money. These groups are smaller groups who focus on their economic self-interest. They are well organized groups consisting of mostly wealthy individuals, corporations, and businesses (Schultz packet). Leading interest groups hire lobbyer's to deal with political officials. "Most politicians are inexpert in many of the policy areas they govern. They come to rely on the expert advice provided by interest groups" (Stowitts 247).

The Lobby Acts of 1994 were created in order to put a limit on the information lobbyists gave officials but loopholes have been made. As a result of Buckley vs. Valeo Congress also provided loopholes for th ese interest groups to provide money. They donate money through many PACs they set up for themselves. The members of interest groups, such as big corporations (including all the significant members of the corporations) donate money to these accounts set up for political agendas. Illegal actions also take place, such as bribery, but it is hard to prove because individuals have to be caught in the act in order to be prosecuted. Unfortunately, the elite system, which exists in our country today, is unjust and prevents us from having the proper freedom, equality, and order we have continuously fought for.

True, the freedom we have today is abundant. Congress has made sure that the First Amendment has been upheld, but has it made sure that freedom has been upheld properly? Through freedom of speech, we have developed negative political advertisements which disgrace the whole political system. Through freedom of press we have developed talk shows and magazines dedicated to scandal. Take a look at the Jerry Springer Show: a show marked with violence, hatred, and betrayal. Then there are also magazines, such as People, which dedicate pages to the lives of the women President Clinton had alleged affairs with.

Through our freedom to congregate, we have formed money hungry political parties. Therefore, it is obvious the freedom given to United States citizens have been misused. Our equality and order has been sacrificed through this freedom. Walter Lipman says news is responsible for citizens voting in a rational way (video).

What rational way? In recent California governor elections, less that 20% of those eligible to vote, voted. This perfectly illustrates the negative effect political advertising and election coverage has on voters. Despite this, a governor was still chosen. Like it says in Wayne, "everyone doesn't have to be informed and participate in civic affairs for the system to work" (138). Nowadays elections effect those who have a direct stake in them; like corporations, interest groups, and individuals who need certain propositions to be passed or eliminated.

These are the people who invest money in campaigns. Equality is compromised when money is brought into the situation. Big corporations and wealthy individuals control the political world with their excess of money. How are single parents' opinions heard when they are too busy to join interest groups and too poor to donate money to political parties? It is also compromised, when those who do contribute generous donations to campaigns are rewarded with a night stay at the White House (Stowitts 187). Our order is compromised when political candidates are too concerned with raising money rather than raising their issues (text 187).

Existence of soft-money and PACs in an unjust way to raise money for campaigns. Today's voting population is completely discouraged by the lack of order in elections, such as the Presidential Elections of 2000. This elite system which controls our country has lead us to a turn for the worse..