“Hey, instead of going to the office, why don’t you meet the head of the PCAR in the Capitol rotunda instead, help them out today. I think it’ll be a good learning experience.” “What’s the PCAR?” I texted back to my boss, but I moved on without an answer. It was my second year interning at a lobbying firm in my state capital, and I had started to feel like pretty hot stuff. I had originally wanted to intern at my firm because of my love for policy minutiae, but I, unexpectedly, found a kind of magic in the grimy politics of Harrisburg. My first tour of the gilded capitol, taken in the midst of a budget crisis, was illuminating. “This representative is a friend of ours, this senator is an alcoholic, that man is just using this office …show more content…
He was also a Democrat, which as we discussed their legislative strategy led me to the derisive conclusion that he was doing this to move up in the world. A press release with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape advocating a bill to help children is the kind of thing voters, Democratic or otherwise, would adore. I asked him, politely, what his motivations for the bill were exactly. “I never want a child to go through the same thing I did and never get justice.” For the second time that day and the second time in two years, my cynicism went unrewarded. Disappointingly, our legislative strategy amounted to little more than taking a folder with information and a letter begging support from anyone that might be relevant in the legislative process. As I made my way to my first senator with a coworker, he remarked, “We’re doing this as a favor to the PCAR, no one’s going to change their vote because of a letter from a no name minority representative.” He was right of course, but I found the thought no longer sitting right with me. Unfortunately, my feelings were not shared by the secretaries of the relevant legislators. If this was a novel I’d say they slammed the door in my face, but like true politicians they took my folder and shuffled me on my way.
As the age of Reconstruction ended, the Gilded Age of big businesses began in the United States and with it came new jobs and goods for Americans. When new corporations became more successful, it made an immense impact on the economy, the political system and the lives of citizens. Economically, the cost of food and living went down significantly as well as a surplus of jobs. Political leaders were corrupted by big business as their decisions and laws were influenced by the wealthy class’ bribes and stealing from the common man. Though mass production allowed goods to be made quicker and in greater quantity, the workers’ horrible working conditions and remarkably long hours caused the creation of unions and strikes. Despite the great effect big business had on the economy in the Gilded Age through the decline in the cost of food and fuel, the daily lives of average working-class citizens were negatively impacted by long hours, horrid working conditions leading to unions and a corrupted political system.
During the 1980s, the California legislature had built a reputation as one of the most professional legislatures in the country and for good reason. For one, the legislature enjoyed relatively low turnover rates between 1979 and 1989, with the assembly ranked in the 16th country and the senate ranked 3rd (Petracca, pg.11). But, following implementation of Proposition 140, instability was very pronounced in the in the first years particularly in the assembly. For the first 8 years after the implementation of term limits, speakers of the assembly were generally inexperienced and ineffective, lasting only for budgets and an election. It was not until the appointment of John A. Perez in 2009, that the assembly began to stabilize Another aspect of instability and ineffectualness of the assembly has been its committees. Due inexperience of assemblymen, the process of identifying flawed legislation through gatekeeping has not been used as effectively as it has in the past. Prior to term limits, the percentage of failed bills stood at around 36.3%. After term limits, it was 23.3%. So, without experienced assemblymen, bad policy is more likely to go through
The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid industrialization, reconstruction, ruthless pursuit of profit, government, corruption, and vulgarity (Cashman 1). After the Civil War, America was beginning to regroup as a nation. There were many other changes developing in the country. Industrialization was taking over the formerly agricultural country. The nation’s government was also in great conflict (Foner 20). Many changes occurred during the Gilded Age. These changes affected farmers, labor, business, and politics.
The late 19th century and early 20th century, dubbed the Gilded Age by writer Mark Twain, was a time of great growth and change in every aspect of the United States, and even more so for big business. It was this age that gave birth to many of the important modern business practices we take for granted today, and those in charge of business at the time were considered revolutionaries, whether it was for the good of the people or the good of themselves.
and what had happened, I realized that it wasn't what I had hoped would have taken place. From then until now, it has only reimbursed my thoughts and feelings that our National experience has over shadowed my senior year and place in office. I have continued to feel as though I am being pushed out and unwelcome after repeatedly being told about meetings or activities late, being informed of things happening by other officers in my classes, and showing up to meetings scheduled a week in advance and have nobody be there. I feel as though other officers have put up a barrier between them and I, not allowing me to truly start my role as
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave” is repeated over and over again to emphasize the foundation and morals of our country. We are thought to be free and courageous from our triumphs on the battlefield by other nation. Funny thing is that song was written in 1814, 195 years after slavery was established in the U.S and was still occurring. “the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There are many problems with the pledge, not only is does it sound like a cult pledge but it is also forced upon people. You are shunned for not being patriotic enough and pridefully singing the national anthem. America, the birthplace of the hotdog, the first one the moon, and the runner
Discuss Politics in the Gilded Age. Include major political events and issues, and the roles of the “bloody shirt,” corruption, patronage, and reform movements.
The Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America’s industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. With the many immigrants, skilled and unskilled, coming to America the labor system is becoming flooded with new employees. During this period, the immigrants, including the Italians, were unskilled and the skilled workers were usually American-born. There was also a divide in the workers and the robber barons. Robber barons were American capitalist who acquired great fortunes in the last nineteenth century, usually ruthlessly. There was much turmoil throughout the business and labor community. Two major organizations, the Knights of
The Gilded Age was a tough time for me and other families to have a life and prosper in. Long hours and low wages were common as owners could find low-cost workers. Without unions, I and the rest of the workers were exposed to extended hours during a time where paying someone overtime did not occur. With limited opportunities workers like me and families had jobs that we struggled with and no hope of getting far in life. During the Gilded Age, there were two social classes, the wealthy and the poor and, unfortunately I was in the poor social class. The Gilded Age had a meaning behind it and I had an idea of what it meant, “Gilded means covered with a layer of gold, but it also suggests that the glittering surface
The years after the American Civil War have been characterized by Mark Twain and others as “The Gilded Age.” Generally, historians have emphasized the decline of human values, the low state of public morality, greed, corruption and crass materialism. Do you feel this characterization presents an accurate overall picture of the years 1865-1890? If so, what caused this marked departure from the past in a nation with such strong religious and moral cultural traditions? Use the documents and your knowledge of U S History to answer the question.
When you are young and even well into your adult years people will tell you there will always be somebody who is smarter, faster, happier, or better at something than you are. This is true for all periods of time but in the Gilded Age those who were better gained more and more crushing the people below them with unprecedented greed, corruption, and power. The few exploited the many by way of opportunity. Something our nation was built on, yet the avaricious elite used it for evil methods.
creating a relationship with the staff of congress. This relationship provides a window for the group to testify at hearings. The interest group provides personal transportation for their group members to vote in crucial elections. Some of their members will vote on their group issues since lobbying brings them in direct contact with the political candidates. The groups? members are more than willing to teach their legislators about technology which the legislators sometimes lack this information. The members look forward to informing the legislators about their groups? concerns
After the soaring ideals and tremendous sacrifices of the Civil War, the post-War era of the United States was generally one of political disillusionment. Even as the continent expanded and industrialized, political life in the Gilded Age was marked by ineptitude and stalemate as passive, rather than active, presidents merely served as figureheads to be manipulated rather than enduring strongholds. As politicians from both the White House to the courthouse were deeply entangled in corruption and scandal during the Gilded Age, the actual economic and social issues afflicting urbanizing America festered beneath the surface without being seriously addressed.
I will use these skills in understanding policy change within my respected internship. The subsequent weeks included book facilitations. Each student had a different approach to teaching content from the literature, and it was interesting to see these approaches. I liked the layout of the book facilitations, beginning with Dog Whistle Politics. It set the tone for the remaining facilitations, including my own. I learned how politicians utilize rhetoric to engage supporters while ridiculing a given group. This approach surrounds our everyday media coverage, yet, I was one to not fully grasp what was occurring. I didn’t realize how impactful these comments were until I read So You Think I Drive A Cadillac?. This book provided an overview of welfare policies; however, it honed in on the lived experiences of welfare recipients. I came into this class with a stereotype in mind that had followed me throughout my life. This stereotype is one identified in this book. It includes the view of women
A successful economy is perhaps the most key ingredient leading to a successful nation. An economy is a delicate balance of many different conflicting and coexisting elements. Naturally, an economy’s success can often be measured by the amount of wealth it contains, not to mention the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of its distribution of the wealth. Effective distribution of wealth is no easy feat. Wealthy and poor people will always need to coexist- this is an inescapable truth. The government’s job in many cases becomes that of a referee. Naturally, perfect peace and harmony between two totally different classes would be a utopia, and probably will never be completely achieved. A government must, therefore,