For those of you who don’t know, I recently went back to school. Hooray for me.
In Civics (formerly known as Social Studies, I guess) we’re learning about political campaigns, PACs and interest groups, lobbying, etc. (Yes, I feel like a fourth grader… You should see my math homework. :rolleyes: )
This was one of many questions I had to answer, based on a 10 page reading. “Do you think Congress should limit lobbying? Why?”
First of all, does it really matter what I think? The law saying that, yes, lobbying is in fact limited was passed a long time ago, wasn’t it? But that’s not the point. My answer was, of course, yes. My reasoning involved monetary bribes, forcing Congress to pass laws, and the KKK. And I, of course, got it WRONG.
Here’s my problem with this. Not to state the obvious or anything, but the question started with “Do you think”. How could I possibly get that question wrong? I’m not pissed or anything because I got a B+ on the assignment anyway, it just bugs me a little. (My first B!! I hope I don’t get grounded… )
Anyway, my question to you (and the reason this is in IMHO) regarding the KKK is this; Is it or is it not, by definition, an interest group?
I guess you could get the question wrong if you don’t support your opinion with a logical argument, or if the argument is factually or logically flawed. Merely saying “This is my opinion” doesn’t give you a free pass to assert whatever you want, at least not generally in school. As to whether your argument was good or bad, that I couldn’t say, not having seen it.
As for the Klan, I’d say it’s a group that has interests, but it’s not an interest group in the same way the Chamber of Commerce, or ACLU is, partly because it’s chosen to use different methods, and partly because of it’s reputation.
"Senator, vote for this bill, and I guarantee, the Klan will support you to the hilt! We’ll take out ads, we’ll call the media, we’ll throw a dinner in your honor!. Why, you’ll be an honorary Klansman!
I’d quote my answer but the assignment was only given to me briefly so I could record my grade. It wasn’t, “Yes because otherwise the KKK would bribe Congress into reliving that whole ‘segregation’ thing and we’d have lynch mobs and stuff.” Not at all. It was more like “I think it’s a good thing for a few different reasons. First of all, forceably passing laws through Congress wouldn’t serve the nation as a whole, but only a small number of people. Secondly, if anyone could set a bribe to get laws passed that suit their organization, groups like the KKK would be out of control…” It went on to describe the fall of the economy as the Friends of the Earth battled (and defeated, since the prize was given to the highest bidder) the Chamber of Commerce for land, etc…
With an answer that long, I guess I could’ve left out the part about the KKK. :shrugs:
And I won’t get grounded since I live alone. Well, not alone, but independent of my parents.
Also, many assignments like this aren’t based only on your answer to the question. They also, as others have mentioned, test your ability to think criically, support a position with facts, use citations in support, and also test you on your writing skills and ability to organize. Knowing you, I doubt you failed in any of these areas, but maybe some were less than stellar.
But, uh, you got a B+. So obviously you displayed competence on the upper end of the spectrum.
)