The Guerrilla Guide to Politics
Episode
Ideas:
Voting
Politics
The Election Cycle
Government
The Guerrilla
Guide to Politics (GGP) is a funny, high energy, content-rich
series of lessons in civic participation, filled with contemporary cultural
references and featuring an energetic, knowledgeable and appealing host. It was created to speak to the middle and high
school viewer who has not yet learned the value and critical importance of
taking part in the unique American political process.
Responding to the identified need and growing outcry to reverse
the trend towards non-participation in our political process, GGP speaks to
teens in their own language and in an engaging and entertaining manner. Contemporary music, high quality computer
graphics and the enthusiastic explanations of our host, Jim Rettew, make GGP
watchable and understandable for ages from 12 to 30.
As
educators, we are sometimes dismayed by the fast-paced imagery of the “MTV
style” of video. However, this is the
medium and style most watched and appreciated by our teenagers. GGP brings the message to our teens in a
manner guaranteed to keep them watching.
The content is well researched, non-partisan and covers the electoral
process from voting to where our tax dollars go. With 26 episodes in development, we will investigate all
aspects of democracy and the importance of our young people’s active efforts to
keep our country’s founding principles alive.
The
Washington, DC based, non-partisan Committee for the Study of the American
Electorate states on its website (www.gspm.org/csae), “Since most voting studies
show that the act of voting is a lowest common denominator political act --
that if one does not vote, one tends not to participate in any other form of
constructive civic and social activity -- the decline in voter participation
robs the nation of its social capital, the human resources needed for the
constructive pursuit of a better society.
Conversely, this phenomenon also means that, as voter participation
decreases, American politics tends to be dominated by the intensely interested
at the expense of the general public welfare, as policies become
increasingly adjudicated of, for and by those who vote most heavily.”[1]
In
the not too distant past, the electoral and political process was taught in
middle and high schools under the topics of “Civics” or “Social Studies” or
even “American History”. As the mandated testing in math, literacy and science
became critical to ensure a school’s status, these most basic tenets of
community and communal responsibility were lost or given less attention.
As
a result, our students are graduating from high school and college without a
real understanding of how their involvement in the political process can have
an impact on their lives, their futures and their community at large. Moreover, they can grow up lacking a sense
of civic responsibility and belonging to a larger whole.
There
are literally hundreds of organizations that have a specific interest or
mission in civics education and virtually all indicate an awareness of the lack
of availability of that information to our students. They are
concerned about the
impact this lack of education and awareness will have on our political system.
GGP offers a new method of
bringing political education to our students and potentially to young adults
through commercial channels (i.e. MTV or The Learning Channel).
As we enter a primary election cycle, we have a
once-in-four-years opportunity to use the events of the campaigns (conventions,
town meeting, caucuses, etc.) to enrich the production of this series and make
it immediate, while creating a series that can be used for years as a resource
for teachers, parents and organizations.
The first 26 episodes can easily be completed within this election
period.
Fascinating Leaning Factory, a 501c3 non-profit corporation has
licensed the series for development and production. A budget is being developed for 26 episodes (one broadcast
year). Each program will be
approximately 22 minutes in length and supplemental classroom materials will be
created to accompany the programs as well as an interactive Website. The programs will also be available for
broadcast and home sales. There is interest
from the Public Broadcasting System to air them.
1. Voting
– Learn what it takes to vote: how to
register, how to vote, different ways to vote, when to vote, and how to find
out more about your public officials. Youth and Voting – Wonder why
there are so many political commercials about social security and
Medicare? Younger voters have the worst
voting percentage of any age group.
Find out why our youth fails to participate in the democratic process,
and what you can do about it.
2. Make
Your Voice Heard – Don’t like new laws censoring music
artists? Find out what you can do about
it. Learn about using the media,
donating money to causes, and discover Guerrilla Guide’s top 10 guerrilla field
tactics to influence public policy.
Volunteering to work for a candidate.
3. Influencing
Government – Lobbying, corporate/special interest vs.
small issues, regular people making a difference.
4. What
is Politics – Some people say that politics is a contact sport,
but what exactly is politics in the first place? How and why are some people better at it than others, and what
are some ways you can get some traction in the political process?
5. Principles
of Democracy – What are the laws that our country is
based on? Why shouldn’t smarter people
get more than one vote? Don’t the
separation of powers lead to more gridlock?
How can we promote liberty and equality at the same time?
6. Women
/ Minorities and Politics – The glass ceiling is slowly being
shattered in politics, and yes, minorities are allowed to be republican. Find out about the year of the woman, how
women took over the governor’s mansion in 2002, the rise of an African American
Oklahoma republican, and the influential voting block of Latinos.
7. The
4th Branch: Media and
Politics – The spin cycle isn’t just a button on your
washing machine. Find out how covering
politics winds up influencing public policy.
8. Campaigns
– So you want to run for office? Learn
what it takes to throw your hat in the ring, from declaring, to fundraising, to
fieldwork, to Election Day. Running
for President – Running for president isn’t an ordinary campaign. Find out the unique road to the White House,
from the caucuses in Iowa to the Inaugural Ball. Campaign staff.
9. Political
Parties – You think they could have chosen better
mascots than a donkey and an elephant.
Find out what a party does, who makes up a party, and what they stand
for.
10.
Primaries
– How is a primary different from the general election? When are they held? What’s the big deal about Iowa, New
Hampshire and Super Tuesday?
11.
Political Conventions
– Looks like a big party, but do they serve any function? Find out about their purpose, the media
coverage, and the all-important convention ‘bounce’.
12.
Political Debates
– Does anyone listen to 90 minutes of talking heads? Find out why debates play a big role in determining your elected
officials, and how they could be improved. Youth Debates.
13.
Day in the Life of a Candidate - Town
Hall meetings, get out the Vote drives, bus rides, walking the neighborhoods,
pressing the flesh, calling for $$
14.
Follow the Money Trail
-- Who’s giving to whom and how much? How much do elections costs? And what are the pitfalls to big-money
campaigns? Does money buy votes?
15.
Special Interests
-- How are special interests involved in
the campaign cycle? In what ways to
they influence decision makers?
16.
Polls – Seems like
there’s a poll to everything. Find out
who’s using them and why, how they’re really done, and what are there pitfalls?
17.
Negative Campaigning
– Looks like a mud-slinging fest on TV.
Are all candidates really as bad as they say? Find out how they’re used, why they’re used, and the subtle ways
campaigns try to manipulate your vote.
18.
Federal, State, and Local Government –
What’s the difference? – So you think city council handles foreign
policy and your state legislature works on traffic lights? Find out the difference between federal,
state, and local government and learn who does what.
19.
Local Government – How
to get involved, how to get things done.
What are your responsibilities as a citizen
20.
Your State Capitol – What the heck goes
on in there? – So you’ve got one of these funny looking
capital buildings in your town. What
the heck goes on in there, and how is it different from the U.S. Capitol
21.
The Federal Government
– The federal government is more than just the White House. What does the federal government do? How much money do they spend, and what do
they spend it on? Who are all these
cabinet officials?
22.
Where Do My Tax Dollars Go? – When
you see federal taxes taken out of your McDonald’s paycheck, where does it
go? The federal government spends
trillions and trillions of your tax dollars.
Don’t you want to know what they spend it on?
23.
The White House
– Take a tour of the White House, not only the building, but also the roles of
staff. Learn about Air Force One and
how the President travels. And what’s
the deal with Camp David?
24.
Hot Air:
State of the Union, Inauguration, and Other Big Speeches
– Do you tune out after hearing, “Mr. Speaker, the President of the United
States”? Learn why these are pivotal
moments in any president’s career, what the function of these speeches are, and
why are they so important.
25.
The Legislative Branch
– What’s the difference between a senator and congressman? What do they do? What’s their role in passing law? Life of a Bill –
Creating a law is like making sausage:
neither is very pretty. Find out
what it takes to cook a bill into a law.
26.
The Judicial Branch
– The judicial branch is the most overlooked branch of the federal
government…that is unless we’re talking about chads in Florida! Find out about a job that is yours until you
die, and learn about pivotal decisions cast over history.