Fat Cats and Thin Kittens: Are People Who Make Large Campaign Contributions Different?

Critics of campaign finance in the United States often direct their fire toward contributors who make large donations. Critics charge that large contributions are unfair, unrepresentative, and undemocratic. Accordingly, they push for "reforms" that would favor small contributions over large, and public money over private donations. Survey data on contributors contradict that stereotype of contributors of large amounts and their effects on American politics. Overall, "fat cats" differ less from contributors of smaller amounts than critics have alleged. The differences that do exist are mostly unsurprising and generally small in magnitude. Survey results show that both policy liberalism and Democratic partisanship are well represented among contributors of large sums.The supporters of McCain-Feingold argue that new restrictions on large contributions will profoundly alter American politics for the better. Their claims have no basis in fact. New laws aimed at restricting large donations in favor of smaller ones will have little effect on practical politics

Mnemodrama : Alessandro Fersen's parashamanic training technique for the occidental performer.

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2461 on 14.02.2017 by CS (TIS)This thesis is the first full-length study of the experiments in performer training undertaken by Alessandro Fersen in his studio laboratory in Rome between 1957 and 1983 and practiced since then in the codified technique which he calls Mizemodrama ( literally, "a drama of memory"). The purpose of my research is twofold: firstly, to focus on the development of the core technique of mnemodrama which is a theatrical simulation of ritual object manipulation employed by shamans in traditional cultures in order to induce an altered state of consciousness. In Fersen's terms such transic techniques provide the contemporary performer with a psychic training which enables him to explore different aspects of his persona rediscovered from both the autobiographical and archetypal levels of his unconscious. Secondly, the thesis presents a case for viewing Alessandro Fersen as a pioneer of post-war experimental theatre practice, particularly from the standpoint of the interdisciplinary nature of his experiments (theatre combined with anthropology, ethnology and psychology) and his focus on training rather than performance within the confines of a laboratory. The philosophy behind his research, its goals and methodology are therefore compared with those of his more celebrated peers, Jerzy Grotowski, Peter Brook, Richard Schechner and Eugenio Barba. This thesis combines academic research with two periods of observation of the mnemodrama in performance at Fersen's studio in Rome in 1990 and 1992. Subsequently, I was able to introduce Fersen and his work to British academic theatre professionals for the first time at the international conference on Performance, Ritual and Shamanism organised by the Centre for Performance Research and held in Cardiff in January 1993. Finally, the appendices contain Fersen's essential justification for his research, from which the arguments of this thesis have been developed. The appendices also represent the first substantial translation of Fersen's writings on theatre to appear in the English language

2014 Ohio Election: Labor Day Akron Buckeye Poll

This report describes the state of the 2014 Ohio election on Labor Day, the traditional beginning of the general election campaign. It also documents the underlying patterns in these results and provides a baseline for change as the campaign develops. Like all survey findings, this report is a snapshot of public opinion at one point in time

Governing Controversies: A View from the Ohio Public

This report updates Ohioans’ views on four controversies concerning state government: legislative redistricting, early voting, term limits, and length of a single legislative term. To one degree or another, these “governing controversies” reflect a tension between the role of popular opinion and professional opinion in the operation of state government, especially the state legislature. These issues may be addressed by the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, currently convened to study and propose possible changes to the state constitution (http://www.ocmc.ohio.gov/ocmc/home)

Spinor fields without Lorentz frames in curved spacetime using complexified quaternions

Using complexified quaternions, a formalism without Lorentz frames, and therefore also without vierbeins, for dealing with tensor and spinor fields in curved spacetime is presented. A local U(1) gauge symmetry, which, it is speculated, might be related to electromagnetism, emerges naturally.Comment: 14 pages; v2: minor corrections; v3: note added concerning unified treatment of local Lorentz transformations and local U(1) gauge transformations; v4: published in J. Math. Phys. 50 083507 (2009

The American Religious Landscape and the 2004 Presidential Vote: Increased Polarization

Presents findings from a post-election survey conducted in November and December 2004. Explores the polarization between different religions, as well as within the major religious traditions

Comparisons of elastic and rigid blade-element rotor models using parallel processing technology for piloted simulations

A piloted comparison of rigid and aeroelastic blade-element rotor models was conducted at the Crew Station Research and Development Facility (CSRDF) at Ames Research Center. A simulation development and analysis tool, FLIGHTLAB, was used to implement these models in real time using parallel processing technology. Pilot comments and quantitative analysis performed both on-line and off-line confirmed that elastic degrees of freedom significantly affect perceived handling qualities. Trim comparisons show improved correlation with flight test data when elastic modes are modeled. The results demonstrate the efficiency with which the mathematical modeling sophistication of existing simulation facilities can be upgraded using parallel processing, and the importance of these upgrades to simulation fidelity

Multiparty Politics in America (First Edition)

In the wake of Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, and other third party and independent candidates that ran in the 1996 election, this collection of original essays by leading political scientists and third party officials is must reading for individuals interested in American politics. Multiparty Politics in America examines the roles that third parties have played in U.S. elections past and present and their prospects for the future. It presents unique and detailed coverage of the Reform, Green, and Libertarian parties\u27 goals and campaign strategies; discusses the kinds of reforms that would help them become more viable; and advances the debate over whether the U.S. should have a two-party or multiparty system.https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/multiparty_politics1/1000/thumbnail.jp

The State of the Parties (Sixth Edition)

Every four years, The State of the Parties brings readers up to date on party action in election years and in between. With the dual themes of continuity and change characterizing the new edition, this essential party primer includes: three new chapters on party roles in the 2008 election, a section on the impact of party resources for the campaign, extensive coverage of party mobilization efforts via the Internet and local activity, and new chapters covering topics ranging from Republicans\u27 fall from grace to party governance under Nancy Pelosi to President Obama\u27s role in party politics.https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/state_of_the_parties6/1000/thumbnail.jp

A Symposium: The Legal and Polticial Implications of Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

One of the most vexing issues in constitutional jurisprudence concerns the political regulation of money and its democratic implications. The resolution of the constitutional question for democracy involves striking a balance between two competing interests: the protection of political liberty under the First Amendment and the legitimate interest government has in preventing money from having a corrosive or corrupting effect on the political system. With its landmark ruling in Buckley v. Valeo, some say that the Supreme Court successfully reconciled these interests and, in fact, strongly preserved the basic ideal of American freedom. Different commentators, however, maintain that the Supreme Court managed to protect neither interest adequately. Still others familiar with campaign finance adopt a more neutral position, implying that Buckley is a sound ruling but nonetheless leaves many key constitutional issues and public policy questions unsettled. To be sure, the range of debate surrounding Buckley illustrates that it is the basis for legal and political controversy