I'm unsure what the AARP's role in government is. I know they are considered a controversial lobbyist group. But how do they affect politics and sway others to vote their way.
131585
AARP most significant purpose is allegedly and supposedly protecting the interests of its membership.  Inasmuch, AARP is a financially power entity and has the ability to sway political opinions thanks in part to their membership and collations with other political factions.\n\nWhile singularly, AARP may win some battles, generally speaking is usually is a joint effort with other lobbyist groups.
561801
Don't know what you mean by the DECIDER!*.  I do know that many countries look to the USA for financial and military support.  I also know from personal experience that many people believe that all Americans live like George Bush, Donald Trump or Jennifer Lopez.  I have traveled and made it my mission to prove that we are not all "Ugly Americans" nor do we all belong on the set of "Dallas".  Much like the problems in the USA, this is a situation that need to be handled person to person.  I don't recommend Rick Santorum meet with a group of under privileged youth, that would be like Donald Trump sitting down to lunch with people at a shelter.  The USA needs to start at home with representatives who can actually speak to those they represent.  After that they can move on to bridging the gap with other nations.
271055
Of course government is politics!  They sort of go hand in hand.  And the answer to the original question is hypocrisy, and it has to do with money and power.  Unfortunately for the US citizens, the current administration is more focused on a personal agenda than what's good for the country or the world for that matter.  My hope is that all this will inspire people to get off their lazy butts and do something, like VOTE!  All the complaining in the world won't do a good if everybody is too lazy to take an active role in their civic duties.
654934
But if the people don't even know about an issue, how can they have an informed opinion about the bill?  The actions of congress are online, and you can keep up with them, and email your opinion to your representative at any time of day.\n\nWho would propose laws in your scheme, without representatives?  All 298,444,215 of us?  That could lead to a lot of votes.\n\nDo I think our countries laws should be decided as snap-decisions by inattentive members of the public - like American idol? NO
551703
Special Interest Groups are organizations that push for causes. These groups collect money from the people who believe in these causes and then lobby politicians for these causes.\n\nLobbying is done by either the group presenting the causes to the politicians or providing money to support the politicians so that they stand behind the causes. Essentially making the politicians indebted to the organization that supports the cause.\n\nThe special interest groups may have their own lobbyists or they may hire professional lobbyists to go to Washington for their causes.\n\nExamples:\n\n1. Right to Life Groups pushing to stop abortion.\n2. American Civil Liberties Union - A group that pushes for civil rights.\n3. AARP - A group that pushes for the rights of senior citizens.
99746
This is all part of extending the power of the parties to gain and keep a majority so they can govern. No matter how much we as concerned Americans claim we want politicians to work together and behave civilized, by our actions we give them a radically different message that they ignore at their peril.\n\nWe as Americans tend to respond favorably towards a party that is willing to be even nastier and more childish than the election before. All opinion polls and focus groups on advertising style show overwhelmingly that negative ads are more memorable and more effective. The average person will not be bothered to get out and vote for a nice guy, but they'll jump hurdles to vote against someone described by a commercial as a real jerk.\n\nAlso, let's remember that we as Americans don't really like anything in moderation, so we certainly don't have any respect for moderate politicians. "The only thing in the middle of the road is a yellow line and a dead armadillo." We like to think that we are right; not just right, but that people who disagree are at the best complete idiots, if not outright traitors.\n\nAlso, only about 50% of the people will vote in a Presidential election; at best, 35% in a midterm election; maybe 15% in an off-year election where there are all sorts of local and state mandates up for grabs. This means that only the most radical and opinionated people are actually going to take responsibility for determining what sort of government we will have. You can't succeed by pandering to people who don't care, just like you can't succeed advertising to demographics that won't buy your product (The Ed Sullivan Show banned Elvis from appearing not because the producers thought he was immoral, but because teenagers don't buy new Oldsmobiles!).\n\nThis goes much farther than just who will run the government. This determines whose friends will get jobs in the government, whose supporters will get government contracts, and which Congressmen will become influential and be able to retire into a very lucrative lobbying career.
250605
Yes, that is how it is. They are basically telling American citizens to blank themselves. They represent big business and not the American people. It's been that way for years though, maybe now American citizens will get a wake up call and start voting 3rd party in massive numbers instead of being stuck in the box of voting either one party or the other.
416286
An interest group is a group of persons, mostly with a single agenda, such as pro-choice, anti-gun, anti-war, or pro-Israel. These groups all influence, both through their power as a group of combined citizens, and often through monetary donations, the decisions made by our elected officials. These officials all belong to a certain political party, and different interest groups align with different parties. Having people be elected based soley on one issue is terribly inefficient, considering the amazingly diverse subjects the law of the United States encompasses. So, in essence, the political parties work together and support individual interest groups together in a party platform, which is their basis for deciding how to vote on the issues that their constituency and the interest groups that support them are concerned about. Example - The National Rifle Association often supports Republican candidates, because traditionally Republican politicians tend to vote in favor of less laws controlling guns, thus helping the members of the NRA do what they like to do - shoot guns. \nYou scratch my back, I scratch yours.
389356
Special interest groups do not actually provide anything except a few votes for the politicians that support them.\n\nThis might sound harsh, but the best career politicians stay as far away from special interest groups as they can.\n\nIf there is a pro-life group for example, a very conservative republican might make an alliance with them to obtain their vote... but others who are pro-choice will abstain from voting for that politician so he might lose as much as he gained from the alliance unless he lives in an area with a heavy right-wing populus.\n\nThe same is true for democrats and liberal special interest groups. Some democrats will be reluctant to align themselves with a gay marriage proposal if they live in a conservative community.\n\nIn order for a politician to make strides  that count, they must maintain the illusion that they have YOUR best interest in mind... so they try to stay away from issues that fall 50/50.\n\nSometimes, they will "create" an issue that did not previously exist because they know that a strong majority would agree with them.... one of these issues is Child Protection. \nEverone loves the kids.... so it's a sure fire way to get a big vote because you would have to be a real jerk to support the opposite.
487623
actually-my goal is to run for Senate and become a Senator one day.  i think a big problem is the lack of direct communication between politicians and the people they serve.  plus, negative ads dont help either.  but i am more than willing to go through that because i truly love america and want to serve them.  i actually take criticism fairly well.  i am very polite and very open-minded to peoples' responses.  unfortunately, politicians have to deal with those who know nothing about the political world, or the world in general for that matter-but its freedom of speech and i support that.
447324
I haven't heard about this specifically, but in theory, I agree- it would just bring in uninformed voters. We need voters who have opinions that need to be heard; the payoff of voting is having someone in office to do the job correctly and get things done, what's a better incentive to vote than that?
238355
Cosax is right. both parties have NOT represented the American citizens at all. just special interest groups. taxes would go down if we stop spending all the money on stupid s__t! and we need to protect the borders of the country!
231073
General citizen is having a very specific right in this regard. What they have to do is stand up, elect good leaders who take decision as per public intentions and wish. If you sit in your house on election day and think that others wil vote for he person of your liking then you can just remain mute spectator of all this.
258297
Politics is the candidates' quest to persuade the voters to elect him/her. The ad campaigns, news conferences, and the debates. The ordinances you mentioned is the legislative process of governing. The constituents can only influence, not control, the way an elected official governs. If the community gets angry enough at the leaders, the community will vote them out of the next election. This is the system of a republic as opposed to pure democracy, which is simply majority rule, as seen in California's proposition system.
363223
Your opinion is a popular misconception of how our government is formed, and its function.\n\nThe will of the people do not govern much in the US.  You get to vote.  You can write letters and you can try to influence politicians through campaign contributions.\n\nI do think this is an unpopular war, and I do think that message has been sent.
94358
There's a problem with your suggestion. It'll allow third parties to get in the mix and win seats. Unfortunately, since Congress is controlled by Dems and Repubs, none of them will vote in favor of it. I like the idea, but it won't pass through Congress.
611984
I haven't heard much about Clinton lately and I listen to a conservative talk show station on the radio through much of the week. While I am not a Clinton fan, I do agree with you that there are a lot of people (D's & R's) in 'power' right now that need to make some adjustments in their ideaologies. It just seems like one big crying pitty party from both sides right now. I am not registered as an Indp. but I am starting to think that I need to pay closer attention to the Indp party 'cause the others are whining too much.