Author Question: Engaging in politics is about trying to influence the workings of government. Briefly describe three ... (Read 74 times)

appyboo · **on:** Jul 10, 2018

Engaging in politics is about trying to influence the workings of government. Briefly describe three distinct ways in which citizenseither individually or collectivelycan attempt to influence government.

Which approach seems the most accessible to you? Why?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The incentives for providing public goods tend to be few. Why is this?

What will be an ideal response?

srodz · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 10, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response will:
1, Detail how politics often involves determining who will lead. This could be done through voting, which is a very accessible means of influencing politics because it requires little effort; influencing who will lead could be done through working to help get a person elected.
2, Discuss how influencing politics might involve trying to influence how government will operate and how decisions are made. For example, a person might collect signatures that would require more than a majority vote in the state legislature to raise taxes.
3, Review how the public may try to influence the nature and substance of government decisions. For example, this might involve organizing in an effort to influence lawmakers to increase the minimum wage.

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response will:
1, Note that nongovernmental institutions may lack the necessary resources to provide public goods.
2, Discuss how it is difficult to exclude those who do not pay from receiving the good.
3, Explain how government overcomes the free rider problem by providing the good and requiring everyone to pay for it.