America, the Owner's Manual : Making Government Work for You,9781604264760

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America, the Owner's Manual : Making Government Work for You

by Graham, Bob

ISBN13:

9781604264760

ISBN10:

1604264764

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

4/30/2009

Publisher(s):

Cq Pr

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Summary

Watch Senator Graham on The Colbert Report! The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cShe Said, CIA Said - Bob Grahamcolbertnation.com Click here to preview chapter 1.Professors: Order your exam copy today by clicking on the &BAD:"Request an Exam Copy&BAD:" link above.Would you teach someone to play basketball using just chalkboard diagrams? Or would you get them on the court and have them play? In basketball, the answer is easy&BAD:-you do both. So why teach politics only as a spectator sport?Senator Bob Graham believes that students should expand on their classroom learning about the political system: he spurs them to hit the court and actually play the game. If students work on an issue they care about, politics will become a meaningful and positive experience. This short, how-to guide takes students out of theoretical discussions of policy and into a world where they can affect change. Graham&BAD:rs"s goal is to have students identify a problem, and then walk them through each step from researching the issue, to getting others involved, to engaging the media. Each chapter starts with a real case, showing citizens tackling a step in the process, and ends with a summary checklist and a series of questions that help students put Graham&BAD:rs"s game plan in action. By offering students concrete guidance, an array of resources, and advice for troubleshooting and overcoming barriers, this compact user&BAD:rs"s guide gets students way beyond textbook learning.Thirty-five years ago, as a member of the Florida Legislature, Bob Graham took on the challenge of civic education for eighteen weeks at a Miami-area high school. His time as both a governor and a senator has only strengthened his resolve to pique students&BAD:rs" curiosity about politics and teach them to get what they want from government.

Preface	p. xv
Prologue: Student Government	p. 1
The District of Columbia and Neighborhood Democracy	p. 2
Town vs. Gown	p. 4
Campaign Georgetown	p. 6
A Permanent Campaign	p. 13
Introduction: In the Arena	p. 17
What's Your Problem? Defining the Challenge That Active Citizenship Can Solve	p. 29
Case in Point: A Road through the Mountains	p. 29
How to Define the Problem	p. 34
Look with a Telescope, Not a Microscope	p. 36
Focus the Telescope if Necessary	p. 36
Define the Problem in Political Terms	p. 37
Define the Problem in Public Terms	p. 37
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat the Problem	p. 38
Checklist for Action	p. 39
Exercise	p. 39
Just the Facts, Ma'am: Gathering Information to Sway Policymakers	p. 40
Case in Point: Stormy Weather	p. 40
The Information-Gathering Process	p. 45
Why Conduct Research?	p. 46
Enhance Credibility	p. 46
Avoid Redundancy	p. 47
Locate Precedent	p. 48
Achieve Collateral Benefits	p. 48
Effective Research: A Step-by-Step Guide	p. 50
Above All, Stay Credible	p. 50
Utilize Every Source Possible, but Stay on Target	p. 52
Harness the Power of Real People	p. 58
Final Thoughts	p. 60
Checklist for Action	p. 62
Exercise	p. 62
The Buck Stops Where? Identifying Who in Government Can Fix Your Problem	p. 63
Case in Point: Putting the "Be" in South Beach	p. 63
You Know the Problem-Who Has the Solution?	p. 72
Aiming at the Right Target	p. 73
Determine Which Level of Government Is Involved	p. 73
Pinpoint Your Specific Targets within the Proper Level of Government	p. 82
Checklist for Action	p. 86
Exercises	p. 87
Testing the Waters: Gauging and Building Public Support for Your Cause	p. 93
Case in Point: Reversal of Fortune in Steamboat Springs	p. 93
Why Does Public Opinion Matter?	p. 98
Determine the Level of Support	p. 99
Identify the Arguments Most Likely to Resonate with the Public	p. 100
"Micro-Target" Specific Groups of Persuadable Officials or Citizens	p. 101
Get the Most Bang for Your Campaign Buck	p. 103
How Do I Determine What Public Opinion Is?	p. 104
Polling	p. 104
Other Methods of Measuring Public Opinion	p. 108
Conclusion: Putting Public Opinion Data to Good Use	p. 114
Checklist for Action	p. 114
Exercises	p. 115
Winning Friends and Influencing People: How to Persuade the Decision Maker	p. 122
Case in Point: Getting MADD at Drunk Drivers	p. 122
Influencing and Persuading the Decision Maker	p. 128
Define the Relationship with the Decision Maker before You Create It	p. 129
Follow the Chain of Command	p. 130
Respect Professional Staff	p. 131
Know the Decision Maker before You Begin to Lobby	p. 131
Understand Internal Politics and Dynamics	p. 134
Do Your Homework-Always Be Credible	p. 135
Maximize Your Face-to-Face Opportunities with the Decision Maker	p. 136
Don't Assume that the Final Decision Maker Is the Right Target	p. 140
Don't Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good	p. 142
Checklist for Action	p. 142
Exercises	p. 143
Timing Is Everything: Using the Calendar to Achieve Your Goals	p. 144
Case in Point: A Lesson from the U.S. Senate	p. 144
Manage the Clock	p. 147
Be Aware of Fixed Deadlines-and Start Long in Advance	p. 147
Study the Budget	p. 149
Think in Terms of "Best Time" to Achieve Your Goal	p. 151
Take Advantage of Trends, Cycles, and Deadlines	p. 152
Checklist for Action	p. 158
Exercises	p. 159
All for One, and One for All: Coalitions for Citizen Success	p. 160
Case in Point: The Orange Hats of Fairlawn	p. 160
The Fairlawn Coalition: Getting Started	p. 162
From Marching to Patrolling	p. 162
Bringing the Police into the Process	p. 164
On Patrol	p. 165
Police Patrols and Citizen Patrols	p. 168
Staying Together	p. 168
Building Your Own Coalition: A Step-by-Step Guide to Forging an Effective Alliance	p. 170
Define the Problem Specifically and Attract the Widest Possible Coalition	p. 170
What Comes First-the Coalition or the Solution?	p. 172
Know Your Friends and Your Enemies	p. 174
Have a Simple, Direct Message-and Repeat, Repeat, Repeat	p. 176
Pick a Strong Champion to Celebrate Your Cause	p. 177
Be Vigilant in Keeping the Coalition Together	p. 179
Checklist for Action	p. 181
Exercises	p. 181
All Your News Is Fit to Print: Engaging the Media	p. 183
Case in Point: Max Rameau's Mission	p. 183
Getting to Know the Media	p. 186
Newspapers	p. 189
Television	p. 193
Radio	p. 196
Multicultural Media	p. 198
The Internet and Blogs	p. 199
Persuading the Press: Designing and Implementing Your Media Plan	p. 202
Know Your Goals, Message, and Media Audience	p. 203
Do Your Homework	p. 204
Walk a Mile in the Media's Shoes	p. 205
Make Contact	p. 207
Take Multiple Bites at the Apple	p. 209
Stay Credible at All Costs	p. 210
Distribute Your Own Message	p. 210
Checklist for Action	p. 213
Exercises	p. 213
The Price of Progress: Finding the Resources to Support Your Initiative	p. 215
Case in Point: Nothing But Nets	p. 215
The Most Popular Labor-Saving Device	p. 218
Paying for Your Initiative: A User's Guide to Successful Financing	p. 220
Determine How Much Money You Will Need to Meet Your Goals	p. 220
Know the Law-or Enlist the Help of Someone Who Does	p. 225
Establish a Campaign Finance Infrastructure	p. 229
Ask, Ask, and Ask Again	p. 231
The Special Case of the Internet	p. 235
Checklist for Action	p. 236
Exercises	p. 237
You've Won! You've Lost: Preserving Victory and Learning from Defeat	p. 239
Case in Point: A Victory Born in East L.A.	p. 239
If You Have Won: Capitalizing on Victories	p. 246
Look over Your Shoulder	p. 246
Close the Doors Correctly	p. 248
Say Thank You	p. 249
Chronicle the Campaign	p. 251
Turn Opponents into Friends	p. 252
Think about Next Month and Next Year	p. 253
If You Have Lost: Recovering from Defeat	p. 255
Apply the Same Techniques as the Winners-but Sometimes in Reverse	p. 255
Diagnose the Problem and Fix It	p. 256
If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again	p. 257
Checklist for Action	p. 257
Exercises	p. 258
Index	p. 259
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