Jeremy B. Landa
Appendix A Scenarios for impact of political consumption
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Scenario 1: Shaquella decides not to vote in the upcoming election because the issues, taxes and foreign policy, are not very important to her immediate life. After she chooses not to vote, the candidate elected wins by a small margin. The candidate who wins designs policies that affect many people. The candidate raises taxes by 20% for all citizens. (S)he also decides to create a policy of isolation, which hurts businesses in the country because trading decreases. Who are the people directly and indirectly affected in Shaquella's universe of obligation? When she votes should she have an obligation to those not within her immediate universe of obligation? Why or why not? Explain.
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Scenario 2: Marcus is a wealthy entrepreneur who grew up in a poor area, but through hard work and a good education was able to start his own business. He decides to vote in the presidential election for a candidate because the candidate wants to lower taxes for him, as a very wealthy American. The decrease in taxes will lower the amount of money the government has, which will eventually hurt the lowest income people in the country. After 5 years, the candidate Marcus voted for and who was elected has lowered the taxes enough that Medicaid, food stamps, and social security payments are decreased by 50% for everyone. Who are the people directly and indirectly affected in Marcus' universe of obligation? When he votes should he have an obligation to those not within his immediate universe of obligation? Why or why not? Explain.
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Appendix B 1936 Literary Digest Study
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What are the historical factors that are important to this case study?
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Is this poll a straw poll or a scientific poll? Use evidence to indicate which one you believe the case exemplifies.
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What are the pros and the cons of this type of polling style? Explain.
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How does the Literary Digest Poll, which suggests Landon will win the 1936 election, important to the consumer culture in politics?
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Appendix C - Election Process, Public Opinion, and Propaganda Assignment
You will create a political propaganda advertisement that demonstrates your understanding of the consumer driven Presidential election as well as a non-consumer driven Presidential election. You will accomplish the following with this task: 1) You will show your originality in creating advertisements that are propaganda based. 2) You will show you understand the power of the spoken word and persuasion in our society. 3) You will clearly identify how politics has become a consumer-driven industry. 4) You will clearly understand the universe of obligation for voting 5) Projects count for 25% of the grade for each term. Project Guiding Questions: 1) Who is the target of your consumer driven advertisement? 2) What are the characteristics of the candidate that a consumer is looking for according to your poll questions? (explain candidate in terms of making them legitimate, so age, gender, ethnicity, religion, political background, and anything else you think is important.) 3) What is the ideal candidate according to you? (explain candidate in terms of making them legitimate, so age, gender, ethnicity, religion, political background, and anything else you think is important.) 4) What persuasion methods will you use to convince your audience of your message? 5) What current problems in America are important to consumers? What are important to politicians?
Consumption as politics? Evaluation of Projects
Answer the following questions as you listen to each presentation (5 points).
Appendix D Questions for thinking about Image-makers
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Why are there contradictions between John F. Kennedy the politician and John F. Kennedy the person?
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What role does an image-maker play in trying to create the perfect politician?
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How does an image-maker make appropriate decisions about the people they are advising?
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What does not appeal to you about either candidate?
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Why would either of them hire an image-maker or a political consultant?
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Appendix E Questions for Kennedy/Nixon debates
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What does Kennedy suggest that appeals to the consumer voter?
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What does Nixon suggest that appeals to the consumer voter?
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Why do you think that people listening on the radio thought Nixon won the debate?
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Why do you think that people watching on television thought Kennedy won the debate ?
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How does the use of television begin to change how Americans in the 1960s consumed politics and politicians?
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Appendix F - Almost Teacherless Civics Discussion
Election Process What is a consumer citizen and what makes someone a responsible citizen of democracy? As part of your Projects/Writing/Discussion Group grade on the Election Process unit, we will have an almost teacherless discussion.
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In your opinion, which case study was the most influential towards the creation of a consumer citizen, consumer culture, and consumer economy around politics?
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Do propaganda campaigns, image-makers, political consultants, and public relations firms have a place in politics? Why?
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Is voting the only thing necessary for a consumer citizen to be considered responsible and engaged in the American democracy? If not, how do responsible consumer citizens behave?
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Here is how you will be assessed: 50 Possible Points, Everyone will start the discussion with 30 points. The ideal participant in the conversation will contribute his/her own ideas to the conversation, but also listen to the ideas of his/her classmates. It is less important to be the star of the conversation, than to help the class build a collective answer to the posed questions. You can receive points by: 1) Making a comment that relates to the question (5); 2) Referring to the a reading in a productive way (5); 3) Building on someone else's ideas (5); 4) Building on someone else's ideas and referring to a reading (10); 5) Asking a question of your classmates (5); 6) Asking a question that spurs a discussion (10); You can lose points by: 1) Monopolizing conversation (5); 2) Interrupting someone (5); 3) Putting someone else's ideas down in a disrespectful way (5)
Guiding Questions for Discussion. 1. Why was the radio a game changer for the 1936 election? How did Franklin D. Roosevelt utilize radio and how does this connect to consumer politics? 2.Why is the Literary Digest magazine article that predicts Landon will win the election important to consumer polling? What does that tell us about consumer politics? 3.Why was the television a game changer for the 1960 election? How does television change how consumers are able to view politicians like John F. Kennedy? 4. Why was social networking media a game changer for the 2008 election? How does a social networking medium allow consumers to change the playing field for viewing politicians like Barack Obama? 5. Is voting the only thing necessary for a consumer citizen to be considered responsible and engaged in the American democracy? If not, how do responsible consumer citizens behave? 6. Who are image-makers and political consultants? How do they behave and is that relevant to you as a consumer? How and why?
Appendix G: Curriculum Alignment
National Standards
National Council of the Social Studies Standard 10: Civic Ideals and Practices. What is civic participation and how can I be involved? How has the meaning of citizenship evolved? What is the balance between rights and responsibilities? What is the role of the citizen in the community and the nation, and as a member of the world community?
State Standards
State of Connecticut History 1.8 Students will be able to describe interactions between citizens and their government in the making and implementation of laws. Thread 41. Analyze the role of technology, media, and advertising in influencing voting and lawmaking.
New Haven Standards
New Haven Civics 3.3 Students will appraise the impact of the media and political parties and its influence on the election process
