Summary: Black Lives Matter is a collection of organizations that came to light in the recent year. The organization was created after the series of incidents of officers and private gun owners. Now, the situation has become so apparent that Black Lives Matter is a political action committee ( a group that is formed to give money to political campaigns). The PAC, like may others, plan to raise money from the public and use the money to help campaign candidates that share the same policies. The emergence of Black Lives Matter as a PAC was particularly surprising because it has been operating under the idea of not endorsing any specific campaign or candidate. The organizations heads are saying that they are interested in specific policy changes and want to push every lawmaker they can to make these changes; the PAC is just another way to do so.
Question: Do you think that Black Lives Matter will be able to get more done, politically speaking, as a political action committee? Why or why not? Is there a better way to achieve policy change than an action committee? If so, what?
Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/27/black-lives-matter-goes-official-with-a-political-action-committee-but-its-not-an-easy-fit/
Is this another example of the influence of money in politics?
ReplyDeleteI do think that they will be able to get more done. Like Mr.McDermott is suggesting, money plays a large role in politics. We saw how medicare was influenced by corporations, how politicians were bought out and hired after the bill was passed. So yes, I do think that having money to pressure politicians into supporting the cause or make them more willing to show support they might already have. Another way to gain traction would be to put it into the education curriculum. It's best to educate people to stop the cycle because forcing people to accept views they don't want always turns out badly.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I doubt that Black Lives Matter will achieve any significant success as a PAC. Yes, they'll be able to raise money, and money is ideally effective in politics. But, with the $5000 limit they are allowed to give to candidates, and the maximum $15000 they are allowed to donate to parties, money can only be so effective, given that many campaigns spend millions of dollars. Yes, PACs can use the rest of their funds to create ads that aren't sponsored by their candidates, but it's not as effective. Furthermore, as theorized by E.E. Schattschneider, these types of pressure politics do not prove to be successful when utilized by general interest groups (including Black Lives Matter), but only provide remarkable results for corporations. If Black Lives Matter made itself a 527 Group, however, perhaps it'd accomplish more.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the more money the Black Lives Matters campaign acquires as a PAC, the more they will be able to get done, because they will have a greater influence. Although James makes a good point, I believe that for a while, the money that Black Lives Matter donates to the candidates will be enough. I also agree with Aina, when she talked about educating people to "stop the cycle." Because money only goes so far, and we need to teach people instead of forcing them into accepting these views.
ReplyDeleteAs a Political Action Committee, the Black Lives Matter group will likely be able to achieve much more politically. They will be able to donate money to certain groups, whether it's to a candidate promising to change things, or to another in order to get support for a law. However, while they may get more done politically, as a group they will lose a large amount of credibility. PACs are notorious for being corrupted, and by identifying themselves as a PAC, they are losing public support based on the fact that as a PAC they are considered less trustworthy. So while they may gain politically, they will lose publicly.
ReplyDeleteNow that Black Lives Matter is a Political Action Committee, I do believe that they will be able to achieve some success, but unsure about a significant amount. Because it is a PAC there is a $5000 limit on receiving money individually compared to if it was a Super PAC. Yet, the money they receive and in turn use to support candidates or political parties do help in gaining more support for their agenda. I agree with Aina when she mentions that putting it into the education curriculum will help in the long run. The public has a strong influence on government and if the public is better educated, it can help to make more strides in policy changes to benefit Black Lives Matter.
ReplyDeleteI do think that Black Lives Matter will be able to get more done, politically speaking, as a political action committee, because I think they will get more attention and have a greater influence. They will be able to raise money and to help fund candidates that agree with their perspective and then in return help them. I agree with Cassis when she says that money can only go so far, but we also need to get our ideas out in other ways and teach people what they should know.
ReplyDeleteBeing more directed in the way they operate, I do believe that they will be able to spread their message more effectively. Currently, although they are a valuable movement bringing light to a potent issue, they are sometimes counter-productive. This includes an incident where they shut down a Bernie Sanders rally, actually an ally in their fight for racial equality. Equally, many of their actions and statements provide fodder for those on the right who would like to paint it as a radical organization and seek to scare people into limiting their speech. As a PAC, they would be able to fund their own candidates and do many more productive things. One drawback however, is that when it becomes a PAC, possibly it will not be a genuine grassroots movement anymore, but instead part of the political system they initially fought against.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Black Lives Matter can make a significant difference and make a change, however I believe they need to become a Super PAC to really make valuable improvements. Being a PAC means that they have a limited fundraising to political campaigns maxed at $5,000. In order to be a significant presence, they need to become a Super PAC thus being able to raise and donate unlimited amounts of money towards a just cause.
ReplyDeleteAs Maarten mentioned, a more direct operation will allow Black Lives Matter to effectively spread their message and thus bring about greater change. Supplementing their actions with money is a great way to pressure policy makers into passing legislation that benefits their cause. This is reaffirmed by what we have seen in the past with iron triangles and issue networks. As others have said, becoming a super PAC would greatly increase the influence and power of Black Lives Matter. The only limit to their power would be the amount money they can raise, which can be exponential if they can advocate for their cause well enough.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Black Lives Matter will be very beneficial to the black community and everyone else because the message is being effectively spread. Because this message is being spread, a greater change will occur. They will be able to raise more money and help fund candidates. The money can help the candidates be part of their cause, however, money can only go so far. The will have to work to get people to genuinely believe in it.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that the Black Lives Matter Campaign will be much more effective as a PAC. Money is a very effective tool in political bargaining, and Black Lives Matter is no exception. The group will be able to create compromises, offer rewards to their supporters, and create advertisements. All of these uses will allow the money to aid the Black Lives Matter movement greatly.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that the Black Lives Matter Campaign will be much more effective as a PAC. Money is a very effective tool in political bargaining, and Black Lives Matter is no exception. The group will be able to create compromises, offer rewards to their supporters, and create advertisements. All of these uses will allow the money to aid the Black Lives Matter movement greatly.
ReplyDeleteYes I do believe that the Black Lives Matter Campaign will get more done politically being a PAC. Money is big in politics, often times the more money a candidate has or the more money they have supporting them will win an election. The money they raise will be an easy bargaining tool that the PAC can use to get there needs met. Even though money can only go so far, having money will give them more of an opportunity to get their voice heard.
ReplyDeleteI think that as a PAC the Black Lives Matter will be able to accomplish more as a group politically than as a general group of the public. Showing that they mean business and have the ability to back a candidate will increase their ability to influence party members and gain support in more than one area of politics. The money they raise will help the cause however this further demonstrates that money has power.
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