VC NEWS
Which Interest Group Right For You?
by, Nancy Hunt, Editor
Interest groups are to influence political outcomes and to inform the public and lobby the politicians about the good or bad aspects of some proposed policy.
Sucess of interest groups is measured by how their members benefit from legislation. Everyone likes to benefit but there can also be drawbacks to the legislation that could be written from legislation steming from the interest groups.
Anyone can join an interest group. There are many different ones to chose from, no matter what country you live in.This web site, (http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/parties.htm), list many different interest groups from every country. Listed in this article are the names of several different groups, in America, who they are, what they do, and their website for further research.
Democrats For Life Of America
Who We Are:
Democrats for Life of America, Inc. is a national organization for pro-life
members of the Democratic party.
Our Mission:
Democrats for Life of America exists to foster respect for life, from
the beginning of life to natural death. This includes, but is not limited
to, opposition to abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia.
What We Do:
We mobilize Democrats at local, state, and national levels to elect pro-life
Democrats to office, support pro-life Democrats while in an elected position,
promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform, achieve legislation
that fosters respect for human life, participate actively in Democratic
party functions and offices.
Web Site:
http://www.democratsforlife.org
Public Citizen
Founded by Ralp Nader in 1971
Who We Are:
A national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organiztion to represent
consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts.
What We Do:
We fight for openness and democratic accountability in government,
for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe
and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade
policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and
for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.
Web Site: http://www.citizen.org
The American Conservative Union
Who We Are:
The nation's oldest conservative lobbying organization.
What We Do:
ACU's puropse is to effectively communicate and advance the goals
and principles of conservatism through one multi-issue, umbrella organization.
The statement of Principles makes clear ACU's support of capitalism,
belief in the doctrine of orginal intent of the framers of the Constituion,
condidence in traditional moral values, and commitment to a strong national
defense.
Web Site:
http://www.conservative.org
Results
Who We Are:
Nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization, who are comitted to accomplishing
an end to persistent hunger and the devastating impact of poverty.
Our Mission:
Our Mission is to create the political will to end hunger and the
worst aspects of poverty and to empower individuals to have breakthroughs
in exercising their personal and political power. Creating the will to
end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty requires working on multiple
fronts to resolve complicated issues that keep hunger and poverty in place.
Web Site:
http://results.org/website/article.asp?id=19
Christian Coalition of America
Who We Are (Our Mission):
The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Pat Robertson to give
Christians a voice in government. They represent a growing group of over
2 million people of faith to have a voice in the conversation we call
democracy.
What We Believe:
We are driven by the belief that people of faith have a right and
a responsibility to be involved in the world around them. That involvement
includes community, social and political action.
Our Goals:
Strengthening the family
Protecting innocent human life
Returning education to local and parental control
Easing the tax burden on families
Punishing criminals and defending victims' rights
Protecting young people and our communities from the pollution of pornography
Defending the institution of marriage
Protecting religious freedom
Web Site:
http://www.cc.org/index.cfm
Government Is Not God
Who We Are:
Government Is Not God is a political action committee for social
conservatives founded in 1992 by William J. Murray.
Our Mission:
Their mission is the election to Congress of men and women who hold
conservative beliefs on both moral and economic issues.
Difference:
One very important difference between GING and the Christian Coalition
or Liberty Alliance is the federal government does not allow them to directly
support candidates for office. The GING can run radio and TV ads favoring
conservative Christian candidates and give money directly to those candidates
for their campaigns.
GING believes that government should not play God. Families, not the federal
government, are ordained of God to rear and educate children and tomanaage
their own affairs. GING works to elect to office Congressmen and Senators
who share that belief.
The Monster Raving Loony Party of the United States
Founder:
Screaming Lord Sutch, founder of Political Loonyism and Mentor of
the Loony Parties throughout the world in 1963.
The organization issues daft manifestos with a laugh and propose even
dafter laws with a serious intent to make people take action. There site
states that if you ever watch C-Span during its public policy blocks,
there might be the British General Election. In one of the districts,
there will bound to be someone with the audacity to wear a top hat, crazy
ties, and a big honkin' button that says "VOTE LORD SUTCH" and
he'd be smiling along.
They are also in America with even more enlightenment than you can shake
a stick at. Their site goes on to say, with the Clinton scandals, the
peccadillos of politicians, and various etcetera, we believe it's high
time to be Loony and hoist people by their petards.
Next Meeting:
7 (or 8th) Annual Loony party in the United States
Saturday, October 19, 2002, 6:00PM until....?
Boca Ciega Yacht Club, 4600 Tifton Dr. S. Gulfport, Florida
Attire: Party colors are yellow and black and purple. One, or any combination
of, will be proper.
Live Music, Jollity, Merriment, Hillarity, Muse, Comedy, Jams(bring your
axe or horn) and wear your favorite hat!
Webmistress Comment: I believe that you can find Loonies in most Political
Parties. I've encountered Loony Republicans, Loony Democrats, and I was
taught by a Professor who's a Loony Libertarian! So if you're Loony and
ya know it, join us, say it loud and say it proud!!!
Screaming Lord Sutch’s original party was created in Great Britain
in the 1960’s, a tradition he carried on until his death in 1999.
To this day, he stands in history as the longest running candidate for
Prime Minister (never to win!). May we carry on with his passion for music,
his humorous views on politics,and do so in his wonderful spirit of humor
and friendship!
Sources: http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/parties.htm
Other sources listed under each parties web site.