Citizen Democracy: Political Activists In A Cynical Age (people, Passions, And Power: Social Movements, Interest Organizations, And The P)

Apathy and antipathy toward politics are epidemic. Citizen Democracy provides the antidote. In this revised and updated edition, Stephen E. Frantzich portrays citizens from every walk of life—rich and poor, old and young, black and white, male and female, left and right, famous and obscure—as they choose to become involved in politics at a level to which readers can relate. Some of the stories contain unexpected twists. Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, now works as a liquor industry lobbyist and argues that MADD has gone too far. College freshman Gregory Watson reacted to receiving a OCO on a political science paper by quitting school and becoming the driving force behind passage of a constitutional amendment that had been the subject of his paper. Two young women independently wrote letters of application to the U.S. Naval Academy and in the process moved military education in the direction of gender neutrality. Citizen Democracy shows ordinary people engaged in extraordinary civic activity. Their causes run the gamut from civil rights to flag burning, from the Internet to the environment—but their common cause is the fact that they creatively entered the arena of national public policy making and made a difference. Apathy And Antipathy Toward Politics Are Epidemic. Citizen Democracy Provides The Antidote. In This Revised And Updated Edition, Stephen E. Frantzich Portrays Citizens From Every Walk Of Life - Rich And Poor, Old And Young, Black And White, Male And Female, Left And Right, Famous And Obscure - As They Choose To Become Involved In Politics At A Level To Which Readers Can Relate. Citizen Democracy Shows Ordinary People Engaged In Extraordinary Civic Activity. Their Causes Run The Gamut From Civil Rights To Flag Burning, From The Internet To The Environment - But Their Common Cause Is The Fact That They Creatively Entered The Arena Of National Public Policy Making And Made A Difference.--jacket. Introduction. Countering The Culture Of Cynicism: Keeping The Fans In The Stands -- Constitution And Democratic Theory -- 1. Rewriting The Constitution: One Man's Journey To Lend Madison A Hand / Gregory Watson -- Federalism -- 2. Do Ask, Do Tell / Howard Clery, Connie Clery, Maureen Kanka, Richard Kanka And Donna Norris -- Civil Rights -- 3. Taking The Bus And Driving Public Policy For Us / Rosa Parks -- 4. Being A Good Sport, Or, Won't You Be On My Team? / Bernice Sandler -- Civil Liberties -- 5. Let's Just Run That One Up The Flagpole / Gregory Lee Johnson -- 6. All Dressed Down And Nowhere To Go: A Pilot's Checklist / Martha Mesally -- Media -- 7. From Old Bulls To Blogs: The Old Media Confronts The New Media / The Cbs Bloggers -- Interest Groups -- 8. From Grief To Anger To Action: Making One Madd / Candy Lightner -- 9. Wouldn't You Just Love To Live Here? / Lois Gibbs -- Campaigns And Elections -- 10. Registering As A Protest, Or, I'll Vote For That / Richard A. Cloward And Frances Fox Piven -- 11. Changing The Ecology Of Politics: Introducing A New Breed / Brian Trelstad -- Direct Democracy -- 12. Taxing And Revolting Job / Howard Jarvis -- Congress -- 13. Power Letter Writing: Women In The Military Academies / Barbara Brimmer And Valerie Schoen -- 14. Mystery Of The Smoking Gun / Merrell Williams -- Presidency -- 15. Just What The Doctor Ordered / Kristin Zarfos -- 16. When Worlds Come Crashing Down / The Jersey Girls -- Judicial Process And The Courts -- 17. Unaffirmative Action / Carl Cohen -- Bureaucracy -- 18. Do Unto Others, Don't Be A Tattletale / Joe Darby -- 19. If You Can't Lick 'em, Enjoin 'em / Jean Anne Hlavacek And Diane Sackett Nannery -- Short Shots With Careful Aim -- 20. Oh My ... / Michael Newdow -- Wrong Snuff / Ken Weaver -- Attack The Big Mac Attack / John Banzhaf -- Special Delivery From Santa Claus / Roger Durbin -- Kids In Action -- 21. Kidizen Democracy -- From Peer Pressure To Political Pressure / Morgan Lesko And Max Lesko -- Monumental Dream / The Scottsdale Six -- Home Sweet Home / Nick Dupree -- You Can't Say That Again! / Joseph Frederick -- Unfit To A T / Alan Newsom -- Conclusion: Lessons For Nascent Citizen. Stephen E. Frantzich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 235-263) And Index. Through a series of carefully chosen vignettes, Stephen E. Frantzich portrays citizens from every walk of life-rich and poor, old and young, black and white, male and female, left and right, famous and obscure engaged in extraordinary civic activity. Their causes run the gamut from civil rights to flag burning, from the Internet to the environment-but their common cause is the fact that they creatively entered the arena of national public policy making and made a difference.