Explaining the Iowa Caucus

Here's a handy video to try and help explain how a caucus works-in this case the Iowa caucus. Watch the video and compare it to what you know about the way in which primaries work. Which system of selecting a candidate is more representative of the people? Why do you think so? Does it makes sense that certain states have primaries (open/closed/blanket), whereas others have caucuses? Is there a better way of selecting presidential candidates?

Super PAC Spending

Take a look at this chart and then read this article and then comment on the following:

• despite the controversy over Citizens United vs. F.E.C., it appears as if all the outside spending did not influence the 2012 one way or the other. So, should the uproar of this decision stop? why/why not?
• seeing as the close to $1 billion spent by political action committees did little to sway the vote, or increase voter turnout, should their be a law that stops these groups from being able to raise so much money, simply because this money appears to be 'wasted'? Or, should unions and corporations maintain the right to spend ridiculous amounts of money on elections?
• what ways can you think of to improve the manner in which campaigns are run and funded? What ideas would simplify this process and make it fair?

A Shift in Thinking...



I heard something about this on T.V. recently and felt a bit dumb at the fact that I knew nothing about it. The abolition of military is something that, at first thought, would seem impossible for a country to function with (or without). However, as the article states, it is something practiced by close to 20 countries, and it seems to be a success. Huh....
So, what's your reaction? Is this concept simply too idealistic? What would the consequences be in the United States? Lastly, come up with as many reasons as you can in regards to why the abolition of the military would be politically impossible in the U.S. considering our current political culture and foreign policy.

If the World Could Vote

To no surprise, the topic for this week's APGAP extra credit deals with our recent presidential election. However, instead of focusing on the actual results, let's step back and ask the question; 'If the world could vote, who would they vote for?' There are many sites dedicated to this question, and all of them report similar results to the pie chart above. Why?, I wonder is this the case.
For extra credit do any, or all, of the following:
-develop and explain as many reasons as you can for the overwhelming support of President Obama world wide.
-research and find the only two countries in the world that would not have voted for President Obama in the recent election and explain why you think those two nations go against the trend.

The New York Times provides an excellent resources for all things political on their five-thirty-eight blog. They run countless computer models and simulated elections, and in doing so, have predicted an Obama victory on November 6th.
Your extra credit for this week is to check out the blog and then compare it to the actual election results. How accurate were the predictions and models? What did it get wrong? If there are some glaring mistakes made on the blog (for example: if Romney wins) what does this tell you about political polls and prediction models?
Lastly; for all you 18 year olds, remember to VOTE!