Week 3 Discussion: Pros and Cons of Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and Corporations
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chater 7, 8
Lesson: Read this Week’s Lesson which is located in the Modules tab
Initial Post: minimum of 2 scholarly sources (must include your textbook for one of the sources). Follow-Up Post: minimum of 1 scholarly source for your Follow-Up Post.
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:
Option 1: What are the pros and cons of lobbyists as a tool for special interest groups? Should former members of Congress be allowed to become lobbyists? Explain your answer.
Option 2: Social movements can at times use disruptive behaviors. What are some of the possible benefits of disruptive behaviors in social movements? What are the drawbacks or possible negative consequences? What does the First Amendment state concerning citizens’ right to use disruptive methods? Refer to examples from history as you frame your analysis. Explain your answer.
Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least one peer. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Minimum of 1 scholarly source which can include your textbook or assigned readings or may be from your additional scholarly research.
Sample Answer
Poli Week 3 Post
Option 2
Disruptive behaviors relate very well to social movements. Disruptive behaviors encompass temper tantrums, disturbing others, impulsiveness with less respect for safety or costs, aggressiveness, or other socially inept acts. On the other hand, a social movement is a loosely planned but constant campaign supporting the social goal, naturally either change implementation or prevention in a society’s values or structure (Van Dyke & Amos 2017).
Possible Benefits of the Disruptive Behaviors in Social Movements
In social movements, disruptive behaviors have many benefits. For example, a social movement is associated with free education, so individuals holding this particular behavior can go to extreme levels to win their cause. Disruptive behavior also provides means for individuals without a voice in the political system to make their worries known to the decision-makers.
Drawbacks or Possible Negative Consequences
As far as drawbacks are concerned, social movements vividly may shape the direction of society. Whenever the groups, individuals, and civil rights campaigners exceed the traditional limits, they can affect key changes in the social policy and the structures. When these individuals put their requests in front of the government and their demands aren’t welcomed by concerned entities, they turn out to be violent and may lead the state towards civil war, confusion and anarchy. Hence, the social movements use additional transitional tactics to win over the cause. As well, disruptive behavior interferes with the individual’s focus in the society where they are forced to wait while this behavior is addressed. This can result in a lower contribution in the society for the best (Allen, Hwang & Huijding 2019).
First Amendment State Concerning the Citizens’ Right to Use Disruptive Methods
The First Amendment protected six rights of citizens, but the key clauses are (3) right to free speech, (5) right to assemble peacefully, and (6) right to petition the government for grievances redress and rights of peaceful assembly, free speech, and petitioning government may all be concerned in possible regulations (Bernstein & Najdowski 2021). The First Amendment defends states concerning the rights of citizens to use disruptive methods but for a peaceful protest and for demands that are in favor of the whole nation. For example, Symbolic speech usually is encouraged by the Amendment. The burning of the flag implies a symbolic speech protected under the 1st Amendment. Gregory. J., who was a young socialist, burnt a flag in the 1984 Republican National Convention to protest a Reagan administration. This occurred in Dallas, Texas. Thus, this implies that First Amendment identifies citizens’ rights to use disruptive methods for the benefit of all and the whole nation.
